IT’S READY! : There’ll be tortillas, tri-tip, tiramisu and more at A Taste of Orange County, and all for some very good causes

Even if you’re not feeling all that hungry right now, the reasons to attend the fourth annual Taste of Orange County this weekend are better than ever.

Most of the three-day food festival proceeds--including those from a “Battle of the Basketball Stars” Sunday when top NBA players will lock horns in tugs of war and other manly pursuits--will benefit various charities that help abused and disadvantaged kids. And the gate from a Latin jazz concert Saturday night (see accompanying story) will be donated to the City of Hope for cancer research.

Knowing you are helping children and sick people should whet your appetite but good.

You’ll get the chance to satisfy yourself at stands being set up by 25 restaurants offering a whole gamut of foodstuffs from the simple to the recherche .

Fred Burrell will bring his nonpareil barbecue--North Carolina-style chopped beef, spare ribs, hot links and more--and Mrs. Knott of the Berry Farm Knotts will be serving up her chicken and dumplings, not to mention her boysenberry pie. El Torito Grill and Orange’s new Mexicali Grill will be there with such fare as mesquite grilled meats, chili rellenos, chicken quesadillas and fish tacos. There’ll be clam chowders (from Delaney’s and Red Lobster), pizzas (Birraporetti’s, Niccole’s) and pastas (Avanti Trattoria, Louise’s Trattoria, Stuft Noodle).

The Chinese will be there in force with dim sum and other specialties from Ho Sum Bistro and the Shanghai Inn. Natraj Cuisine of India is planning to serve such red-hot tidbits as savory tandoori chicken and samosa , spicy pastry triangles. Royal Thai will return with more of its insanely popular satay , beef or chicken cooked on skewers and doused with peanut sauce. And don’t forget Hassan’s Lebanese treats--stuffed grape leaves, shawarma (barbecued lamb on pita) and Lebanese-style cheesecake.

If you’d prefer to learn cooking, as opposed to just reaping its benefits, the Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Center chef’s pavilion will host cooking demonstrations (and yes, wine tastings) throughout the three days. Actually, a wide variety of California and imported wines and champagnes will be available on the grounds.

And one more thing: Nearly 60,000 people are expected to show up this year, so get there early.

What: The fourth annual Taste of Orange County.

When: Friday, June 19, from 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, June 20, from noon to midnight; Sunday, June 21, from noon to 10 p.m.

Where: On the green at the Irvine Spectrum, Alton Parkway and Irvine Center Drive, Irvine.

Whereabouts: Where the Santa Ana (5) and San Diego (405) Freeways meet.

Wherewithal: Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children. Food and beverage samples will cost between $1 and $5.

Where to call: (714) 753-3545.

A TASTE OF ORANGE COUNTY ’92

Who’s Serving What

AVANTIA TRATTORIA

Veal piccata

Chicken primavera

Manicotti

BIRRAPORETTI’S

Pepperoni, cheese and vegetarian pizzas

BUCKBOARD BRANDS

SANTA MARIA-STYLE BARBECUE

Tri-tip and pinquito beans with Santa Maria-style salsa

Santa Maria-style tri-tip chili

Tri-tip and salsa

BURRELL’S BARBEQUE AND CAFE

Chopped barbecued beef

Spare ribs

Hot links

Barbecued hot dogs

Beans, slaw, potato salad

COCO’S BAKERY & RESTAURANT

Light apple pie

Chocolate cream pie

Fresh strawberry cream tart

Chocolate chunk cookies

DELANEY’S RESTAURANT

New England clam chowder

Manhattan clam chowder

Scampi in scampi butter

Cajun swordfish kabobs

EL TORITO GRILL

Mesquite-grilled chicken tacos

Mesquite-grilled steak tacos

Chips and salsa

Fresh guacamole

HASSAN’S

Shawarma (barbecued lamb on pita)

Falafel (vegetable patties)

Stuffed grape leaves

Baklava (nuts and honey)

Hot cheesecake, Lebanese style

Sopihah (Lebanese-style pita pizza)

HO SUM BISTRO

Ho Sum Oriental chicken salad

Ho Sum dumplings

Poached wrapped won-ton

ICHIBIRI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Chicken teriyaki

California roll

Fried rice

IL FORNAIO

Grilled Santa Barbara prawns

Biscotti

Rolled mozzarella with smoked prosciutto

Tiramisu

JOHN DOMINIS RESTAURANT

Shrimp and mushroom scampi

LOUISE’S TRATTORIA

Caesar salad

Broccoli ravioli

Balsamic chicken and grape salad

MARRIOTT HOTELS

Grilled chicken sandwich

Grilled chicken Caesar salad

MEXICALI GRILL

Chili relleno

Chicken quesadilla

Fish taco

MONTEREY BAY CANNERS

Mesquite-broiled skewers (shrimp or swordfish)

Oyster shooter

Fresh oyster on the half shell

Shrimp cocktail

MRS. KNOTT’S RESTAURANT

& BAKERY

Chicken and dumplings

Boysenberry pie

NATRAJ CUISINE OF INDIA

Samosa (stuffed pastry)

Tandoori chicken

Chicken Tikka Masala

Saag Paneer (Indian cheese)

Saffron rice

Tandoori Naan bread

NICCOLE’S

Ensalada farfalle e’ pollo primavera (bow tie pasta with chicken, vegetables and basil)

Hot pasta mezzalule d’aragosta (pasta filled with lobster and ricotta in lobster sauce)

Pizza quatro stajione (artichoke, ham, mushroom, fresh tomato, mozzarella)

Tiramisu

RED LOBSTER

Clam chowder

Shrimp skewer

ROYAL THAI

Beef or chicken satay

Thai barbecued pork

Pot of gold

Shrimp fried rice

Thai spicy salad

SHANGHAI INN

Sweet and pungent chicken

Shanghai Inn beef with Mandarin orange

Vegetarian egg rolls

Shanghai juicy pot stickers

Vegetarian soft noodles

STUFT NOODLE

Tortellini Angelo

Sausage and bell peppers

Cheese ravioli marinara

TONY’S SEA LANDING

Deep-fried shrimp

Oyster shooter

Cajun-style shrimp and chicken brochette

THE WESTIN SOUTH COAST PLAZA

Sweet roasted garlic bisque

Grilled Santa Fe chicken breast on fresh brioche

Raspberry creme brulee tart, torch caramelized

A TASTE OF ORANGE COUNTY ’92

Who’s Pouring What

SIMI WINERY (Sonoma County)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1987

Chardonnay 1989

Sauvignon Blanc 1990

RUFFINO WINES (Tuscany)

Riserva Ducale 1986 (Chianti)

Orvieto Classico 1989

VILLA MT. EDEN (Napa)

Cabernet Sauvignon

Chardonnay

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1988

Chardonnay Reserve 1990

MONTPELLIER VINEYARDS

White Zinfandel 1990

Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Chardonnay 1990

Sauvignon Blanc 1989

Laurier Vineyards Chardonnay 1989

CRESTON VINEYARDS

Sauvignon Blanc 1989

Chardonnay 1989

White Zinfandel 1991

Pinot Noir 1990

Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY

Napa Fume Blanc 1990

Napa Chardonnay 1990

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1988

Woodbridge Chardonnay 1991

Woodbridge White Zinfandel 1990

Woodbridge Zinfandel 1990

Vichon Chevrignon 1990

Vichon Chardonnay 1990

Vichon Merlot 1989

MOET & CHANDON

Moet & Chandon White Star extra dry

Domaine Chandon Napa Brut

Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir

M TRIBAULT (sparkling wine)

Brut (blanc de blanc)

Rose (blanc de noir)

Los Angeles Times