Restaurant Opens Early to Help Out During Fire

While the recent fires were closing the doors of many businesses, for one restaurant, the fire in Laguna was a reason to open two weeks early.

Olive Garden at 32351 Street of the Golden Lantern in Laguna Niguel, which opened officially this week, called on its new employees to deliver meals to 75 firefighters at Laguna’s Main Beach during the Oct. 27 fire.

“The opening took a back seat,” said general manager Steven Vlahos.

The restaurant also brought meals to the emergency shelter at Dana Hills High School and the Santa Ana Red Cross Center, Vlahos said.

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Chanteclair, a country-style French restaurant across from John Wayne Airport, has been sold to Martin and Carol Lambert by Irvine-based Restaurant Enterprises Group, which owns the El Torito restaurants among others.

The Lamberts took over operation of the restaurant on Nov. 1. They had been dining there twice a week for seven years, Martin Lambert said, and became acquainted with the owners.

Neither has prior food service experience. (Martin is general manager of CHA Inc., a computer printer manufacturer in Irvine; Carol teaches education part time at Chapman University.)

The Lamberts have hired a new chef, Laurent Brazier, formerly of Cafe Fleuri at Le Meridien Hotel. Chanteclair’s general manager, Masood Ghalami, will continue to oversee operation of the restaurant and has become a part owner, Martin Lambert said.

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

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Special wine dinners certainly are becoming popular with Orange County restaurateurs.

Le Meridien is celebrating this year’s arrival of French table wine, the Beaujolais nouveau, by offering country-style dishes in its Cafe Fleuri as accompaniment.

For five nights beginning Monday, Le Meridien will offer a selection of appetizers including mushroom and watercress soup, and pork sausage with pistachio nuts and truffles served with warm potato salad.

Main courses include braised Guinea hen with blood orange sauce, lamb shank with three-bean sauce and Idaho lake trout en papillote.

The special menu is priced from $4 to $18, and is available from 5 to 10 p.m.

On Nov. 20, the cafe will host a Beaujolais dinner dance. Dinner and a half-bottle of wine are $39 per person plus tax and tip.

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

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Stefano in Huntington Beach hosts a wine-tasting dinner on Sunday, beginning at 6 p.m., featuring seven Cabernets sauvignon and a meritage, all from different regions of California.

A sample of the menu: Mount Veeder 1990 Cabernet sauvignon and Clos du Val 1989 Cabernet sauvignon, both from the Napa Valley, served with grilled New Zealand lamb chops in a roasted garlic sauce with fresh rosemary and seasonal vegetables.

The price is $55 per person, tax and tip included. Seating is limited.

7561 Center Ave. No. 37. (714) 373-5399.

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Antonello Ristorante will host Cain Cellars Napa Valley on Tuesday, for a dinner beginning at 6:30.

The six-course meal includes traditional antipasto served with Carneros Chardonnay, and wild game hen with fried gnocchi and sage sauce accompanied by two Cain Five vintages, which approximate Bordeaux blends.

The cost is $75 per person, tax and tip included. Reservations should be made today.

1611 Sunflower Ave., South Coast Plaza Village, Santa Ana. (714) 751-7153.

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The McCharles House has invited representatives from Laura Ashley to show off fashions and home furnishings during an afternoon of tea on Sunday.

Laura Ashley’s fall line will be modeled, as will items created to commemorate its 40th anniversary this year.

The tea runs from noon to 2 p.m. For information and reservations, call (714) 731-4063.

335 South C St., Tustin.

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., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or call (714) 966-7898.