Restaurants Make <i> Giving </i> the Buyword for Christmas Season

Get serious--about Christmas shopping. That’s the traditional agenda for the day after Thanksgiving. Fortunately, most restaurants stand ready to eliminate the hassle by offering Christmas gift certificates good for everything from a simple lunch for two to a gourmet night out. In addition, several restaurants offer gift items.

At McCharles House, at 335 C St. in Tustin, the Back Porch Shop has everything from such house-baked goods as gingerbreads and scones (which can be packaged to mail) to marzipans, preserves and tins of Fortnum & Mason tea. It will also assemble gift baskets with foods, china teacups and pot, tea strainers, colored sugars--whatever you like, priced from $30 to $50. (714) 731-4063.

Bistro 201 at 18201 Von Karman Ave. in Irvine will design baskets with Kachina salsa, Bistro dressing, Paradise iced tea, champagne--even crew-neck shirts--for $75, $100 and $150. (714) 553-9201. And the new Il Fornaio at 18051 Von Karman Ave. in Irvine will mail such delicacies as 2-pound tins of the classic Italian biscotti cookies, gift sets of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and no-spill coffee mugs complete with coupons good for free coffee drinks at any Il Fornaio in California. $9.95 to $29.50. (714) 261-1444.

It took Pascal Olhats six mighty swings to break the champagne bottle during “Relais de Champagne” ceremonies at his restaurant, Pascal, last week. But his success signaled the “consecration” of Pascal, at 1000 Bristol St. in Newport Beach, as the sole recipient in Southern California of the Relais award from the champagne producers of France. Their organization, which dates back to 1650, gives the award to chef-owned restaurants in recognition of “impeccable” French cuisine and service and for furthering what one member of the French delegation termed “the romance, festivity, nobility” of champagne.

Vivian and Michel De Lobelle, who operate the romantic little Tete-a-Tete at 217 Marine Ave. on Balboa Island, recently inaugurated Sunday brunch. There are 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. seatings for the five-course meal, which is accompanied by French champagne. Entree choices are frittata with Provencale ratatouille, fresh fish in lemon champagne sauce, and brochette of beef tenderloin and veal loin served with a Port/pink and green pepper corn sauce. $22.95. Due to the intimate nature of the restaurant (it only seats 25), reservations are recommended. (714) 673-0570.