Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite, Pate

Looking for a way to celebrate the 204th anniversary of the overthrow of a French king? Well, Wednesday is Bastille Day. And a couple of local restaurants are getting in the spirit.

Chanteclair in Irvine is celebrating a few days early--on Friday--with a casino night and French barbecue. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Childhelp USA, an organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect.

The evening begins at 4, with chilled seafood, pate, cheese, Caesar salad, hot entrees, barbecue and dessert. Organizers will raffle off several prizes, including a year’s worth of romantic adventures.

Tickets are $45 and include food, two beverages, entertainment and $20 in gambling chips.

18912 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine. (714) 752-8001.

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Le Meridien Hotel will be the host of an evening of French cuisine and dancing on Saturday in the Deauville Ballroom. The event begins at 6:30 and includes live entertainment and a silent auction to benefit the United Cerebral Palsy Assn. Tickets are $35.

On Sunday, the hotel will organize a French-style street fair in its parking lot, with contributions from some of Orange County’s leading restaurants: Carmello’s, Pascal, Prego, The Ritz, Royal Khyber, Tutto Mare and Restaurant Antoine.

This event runs from 9 a.m. to noon and includes a fitness expo by the Sports Club/Irvine. Admission is free, and food samples are $1 to $5 (purchased with script.)

Together with an 8K run on Monday, net proceeds from this event will go to the United Cerebral Palsy Assn.

The hotel celebrates again on Wednesday, with a poolside party, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The event includes live entertainment--a band, a mime and a caricaturist--as well as hors d’oeuvres, desserts, French wines and cheeses. Admission is free and food items, priced from $2, can be purchased at the party with script.

4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. (714) 476-2001.

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Buffalo Ranch Steakhouse in Mission Viejo opens for lunch beginning Monday. The steakhouse, in business since November, serves filet mignon, top sirloin, T-bone and other cuts. Other entrees include roasted or smoked chicken, fresh whole trout and baby back ribs.

For dinner (but not lunch), each table receives a 22-inch baguette of hot garlic cheese bread and a haystack Caesar salad with entrees. Lunch begins at 11 a.m. Closing time is 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 11 on Friday and Saturday; and 9 on Sunday.

28241 Marguerite Parkway. (714) 364-1372.

Information for the Newsbites column can be Faxed to (714) 966-7711, or addressed to: Newsbites/OC Live!, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626. Or call (714) 966-7898.