April 21 Special: Secretaries’ True Stories

Secretaries who have had to perform out-of-the-ordinary tasks on the job are invited to enter a contest to win lunch at Trattoria Spiga on National Secretaries Day, April 21.

The restaurant will reward the three secretaries who submit the most bizarre true stories. Winners receive lunch for two, along with a plaque and a dozen roses.

Entries must be submitted by April 15 at noon. They must include the secretary’s name, company name and a daytime phone number. Entries may be faxed to (310) 491-0211, or mailed to Trattoria Spiga, in care of Frank Groff Public Relations, 249 East Ocean Blvd., Suite 1010, Long Beach, Calif. 90802.

Trattoria Spiga, Crystal Court, 3333 Bear St., First Floor, Costa Mesa. (714) 540-3365.

The California Restaurant Writers Assn. gave two 1992 Four-Star Awards to Restaurant Antoine during a recent ceremony. The Four-Star Awards are the highest honor given by the organization.

Le Meridien Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. (714) 476-2001, Ext. 2158.

For the second year, Irvine-based Restaurant Enterprises Group’s dinnerhouse division catered the Governors Ball that followed the Oscars ceremony. The sit-down dinner for 1,600 was held in a tented area next to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Hors d’oeuvres included Belgian endive with lomi lomi salmon, purple potatoes with sour cream and caviar, and smoked pheasant quesadillas with jalapeno cheese. The main course was cinnamon grilled chicken with yellow mole sauce, and veal medallions glazed with red chile and served with red onion confit.

Restaurant Enterprises Group owns Coco’s, Carrows, El Torito, Charley Brown’s and Reuben’s.

Anne Michaud is a staff writer for The Times Orange County Edition. Information for the Newsbites column can be faxed to (714) 966-5663, or addressed to: Newsbites/OC Live!, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., CA 92626. Or call (714) 966-7898.