Il Fornaio Dishes Up Foreign Dignitaries

The Pennette All’Amatriciana or the ziti al forno?

That was about as tough as decision making got at Tuesday night’s opening of the hip Il Fornaio Gastronomia Italiana in Irvine.

Pronouncing the dishes was tricky, but digging into the All’Amatriciana (pasta tubes with fresh tomato sauce, pancetta, onion and pecorina cheese) and the al forno (pasta tubes with ham, peas, Parmesan cheese and cream) was a piece of cake (tiramisu, of course.)

And there were more choices at the benefit for the Orange County Performing Arts Center--namely, its Carousel Guild and Center Dance Alliance groups.

For appetizers, guests chose from the new caffe /restaurant/bakery’s signature salad--a crisp and Parmesan-coated presentation of mixed greens with croutons--or a stuffed artichoke, or pizza marinara.

For the main course, guests chose from fresh grilled salmon or pollo dal girarrosto (the hands-down favorite--free-range chicken twirled with aromatic herbs on a spit).

“This feels like Rome,” said Vicki Dallas, taking in the restaurant’s white-tile-and-pine atmosphere.

“Have you been to the Il Fornaio in Del Mar?” Dallas asked. “My mother loves to go there for morning coffee and their breads.”

Breads. The magic word. It’s Il Fornaio’s variety fresh breads that sets this establishment apart. Each day, the facility whips up a specialty. On Monday, it’s pumpernickel. Tuesday, pane all’erbe (whole wheat with coarse rye and sunflower seeds). Wednesday, pane bella Napoli-- bread with tomatoes, olives and mozzarella. If you pop by the restaurant on a Thursday, pane al pesto will be waiting (white bread with pesto sauce--that special blend of olive oil and fresh basil leaves).

For $60 per person, guests dined, toured the facility and rubbed elbows with Il Fornaio America Corp.’s Larry Mindel, the noted San Francisco Bay Area restaurateur. “Don’t forget our un poco di tutto (a little of everything--the restaurant’s retail bakery and takeout store) opens at 7:00 a.m.,” Mindel said.

Espresso anyone?

Another eye-opener: At 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the more than 100 local businessmen who model in the Gentlemen’s Haberdashery--an annual benefit for the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana--gathered at Fashion Island for fresh orange juice, a groaning board of pastries and talk of next year’s benefit (set for March 7.)

The Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart--operators of the retreat facility--credited Santa Margarita Co. CEO Tony Moiso with getting the models up and at ‘em.

“Aw, they were on their way home anyway,” Moiso joked. “Seriously,” he added, “everybody shows up for the sisters. They care about spreading their message of love so much they used to operate the retreat center out of a converted garage.”

But now--thanks to Moiso and friends--the nuns will be able to serve up to 29,000 children annually at their new facility, which is under construction in Santa Ana.

“We teach children that they are special--that God loves each one of them,” said Sister Yolanda.

Of the campaign, which ultimately raised $4.3 million for the new retreat facility, Sister Patricia Jean said: “It was a miracle. We’ll even have some money left over for ongoing expenses.”

Among models were Orange County Supervisors Tom Riley and Don Roth; Al Baldwin with his son, Steve; Thomas Wilck; Matt Schafnitz; Rex Chandler; Paul Salata; Jim McNamara, and Bill Harris. Also present was Kitty Leslie, fashion show coordinator.

And more: The Volunteer Center of Orange County’s fifth annual Giving Is Living Award will be presented to Peter and Gail Ochs on Thursday night at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Developer Peter Ochs is founder and CEO of the Fieldstone Co. . . . On Wednesday, the board of directors of the YWCA South Orange County christened their new Grace House--a transitional housing facility for homeless women and children--with a luncheon. The new home was renovated and equipped by HomeAid Orange County, the Building Industry Assn. and the Orange County Foundation for the Homeless. . . . The board of directors of Founders Plus of the Orange County Performing Arts Center will enjoy dinner and entertainment on Saturday at the Orange home of Marvin and Pat Weiss. Barbara Johannes and Betty Belden-Palmer are co-chairwomen. . . . The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation celebrates “Under the Big Top” on Saturday at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel. Tickets are $120 per person. Call (714) 532-8692.