Wines, Foods to Pair Off at John Dominis

Chef Robert Reash Jr. will create a five-course dinner to accompany the wines of Kendall-Jackson on Tuesday at John Dominis restaurant in Newport Beach. Jedd Steele, Kendall-Jackson’s winemaker, will discuss the wines. Two of the food-wine matchups: barbecued Chinese duck consomme with steamed won ton and cold smoked mushrooms, served with 1987 Proprietors Merlot, and three-nut-crusted Angus beef tenderloin with vegetable pate , souffle potato and truffle sauce, accompanied by 1986 Proprietors Cabernet Sauvignon. Reception at 7 p.m., dinner at 7:30. Cost is $50 per person, tax and gratuity included. 2901 W. Coast Highway. (714) 650-5112.

After-dinner jazz time will debut at Mon Chateau in El Toro on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30, beginning Wednesday. The Debbie Yeager quartet will play and chef/owner Timothy Plumb will serve from a light appetizer menu and also offer an assortment of coffees, wines and champagne drinks. The restaurant is at 23642 El Toro Road. (714) 830-3810.

The latest guide to recognize our local restaurant scene is the New York-published “Zagat Los Angeles-Southern California Restaurant Survey,” which gives some of its highest ratings to 16 Orange County restaurants. In the “top food” category, Pascal of Newport Beach rates the highest with 28 (out of a possible 30), followed by Antoine in Le Meridien, Newport Beach, and JW’s in the Anaheim Marriott, both 27. Kachina in Laguna Beach, the Golden Truffle in Costa Mesa and Five Feet, Laguna Beach, each received a 26; the Rex, Newport Beach, 25. Rated 24 were the Ritz, Newport Beach; the Ritz-Carlton Dining Room, Laguna Niguel, and Zov’s Bistro in Tustin.

Among Zagat’s “top decor” citations, the Ritz-Carlton scored a 28. Antoine, The Towers in Laguna and JW’s each received 26; and 25s went to Cano’s and Kitayama, both in Newport Beach, and Chanteclair in Irvine. Earning 24s were Las Brisas in Laguna, the Ritz in Newport Beach and Antonello of South Coast Plaza Village.