Festival Caters to Diverse Tastes in Cuisine, Music and Cooking

IRVINE —  Thousands of people turned out Saturday for the “Taste of Orange County” to sample cuisine from 36 different restaurants, listen to live music and pick up cooking tips from top local chefs.

But two Lake Forest women came for just one thing--the opportunity to splurge. “We just finished the Jenny Craig program and we’ve been eating ever since,” said 53-year-old Martha Yuhnke. “At this moment, we can’t get enough.”

The two friends arrived at noon as the festival opened, with plans to munch the afternoon away. Yuhnke and pal Sherrie Wallace first toured the green at Irvine Spectrum, taking in all the possibilities. The Buffalo Ranch Steakhouse, Saddlerock Ranch and the Miller Light beer stand were high on their list.

“We don’t take our eating lightly,” said the 57-year-old Wallace, who had already stationed herself and her friend at a shaded table in the midst of the culinary activity.

With clear skies and temperatures in the high 80s, festival-goers took to the few shaded areas available. Some cooled off with samples of ice cream and champagne.

The restaurants offered the 60,000 visitors expected during the weekend a wide array of choices that included basic mesquite chicken tacos and the more elaborate swordfish with exotic greens. Three stages offered live music ranging from country to a cappella doo-wop.

The culinary tent offered a chance for people to watch award-winning chefs from the Ritz, the Four Seasons and John Dominis re-create some of the restaurants’ most popular dishes.

The festival, which opened Friday night, concludes today. It opens at noon and closes at 10 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children. Food samples range in price from $1 to $5.