EVENTS : So Much to Taste

What: Seventh annual Taste of Orange County

When: Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, noon to midnight, and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.

Where: Irvine Spectrum, where the San Diego (405) and Santa Ana (5) freeways meet, corner of Alton Parkway and Irvine Center Drive, Irvine.

Whereabouts: Take the SAn Diego (405) Freeway to the Irvine Center Drive exit and head north. Or take the Santa Ana (5) Freeway to the Alton Parkway exit, and head west.

Wherewithal: Admission, which includes all musical entertainment, is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 to 12, free for children 2 and under. Food and beverage tickets are $1 to $5.

Where to call: (714) 490-4944.

Note: On Sunday, there will be a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

RESTAURANTS

(84) Aubergine: duck confit sandwich, hot Valhrona chocolate souffle with creme Chantilly, grilled Sonoma lamb chop.

(71) The Barn Restaurant: pork ribs, beef ribs, barbecue chicken.

(15) Birraporetti’s: lasagna, pizzas, mini crab cakes.

(33) Boston Market: rotisserie breast of turkey with cranberry walnut relish, Mediterranean pasta salad.

(35) California Pizza Kitchen: barbecue chicken pizza; Thai chicken pizza; fresh tomato pizza; mushroom, pepperoni and sausage pizza.

(44) Cheesecake Factory: cheesecake with berries, white chocolate raspberry truffle, Key lime pie, chocolate mousse cheesecake.

(40) Coco’s Bakery Restaurant: strawberry cream tart, baked apple pie, chocolate chunk cookies.

(19) El Torito Grill: mesquite-grilled chicken or steak soft tacos, jalapen~o beer batter shrimp, mesquite-grilled swordfish on a bed of Southwestern green chili rice with a mango black bean relish, blue corn chile rellen~o.

(74) Ferdussi Taste of Persia: basmati rice with pomegranate walnut and gheimeh sauces, adas rice, chicken kubideh , beef kubideh , stuffed grape leaves, lavash bread, Persian baghlava .

(82) Five Crowns: roast prime rib sandwich with creamed horseradish, creme bru^lee with raspberries.

(24) Foscari Italian Cuisine: bruschette trio; radiatore pasta with tomato, eggplant and garlic-grilled prawns.

(51) Gecko’s: tri-tip soft taco, mesquite grilled chicken soft taco, mesquite grilled mahi-mahi soft taco, salsa bar.

(56) Great Harvest Bread Co.: Various breads; oatmeal, chocolate chip, walnut cookies.

(37) Hassan’s Cafe: barbecue lamb, beef or chicken; stuffed grape leaves; baklava; falafel.

(49) Ho Sum Bistro: Oriental chicken salad, tai tai mein , dim sum combination platter, chocolate-dipped fortune cookies.

(75) Hien Vuong II Vietnamese Restaurant: Imperial spring rolls, barbecue sticks, seasoned grilled tiger prawn.

(12) Hyatt Hotels Catering Services: kung pao shrimp and chicken, pot stickers with Thai dipping sauce, chile poppers, smoked turkey chili.

(53) Jody Marconi’s Sausage Kingdom: hot Italian sandwich, Louisiana hot links, chicken Italian sandwich, Yucatan chicken and duck sandwich.

(81) John Dominis Restaurant: shrimp scampi with mushrooms.

(86) Koto Restaurant: various kinds of sushi.

(48) McCormick & Schmick’s: swordfish skewers, bay scallop ceviche, crab cakes, chocolate truffle cake.

(38) Natraj Cuisine of India: vegetable samosa ; chicken tikka masala , lamb seekh kebab , naan.

(22) Planet Hollywood: chicken crunch, Caesar salad, ebony and ivory brownie, Hollywood club sandwich.

(73) The Ragin’ Cajun Cafe: chicken and sausage jambalaya; chicken, turkey and sausage gumbo; red beans and rice; Cajun sausage po’-boys; alligator sauce piquant.

(42) Royal Thai Cuisine: beef and chicken satay, pahd Thai noodles, Thai giant prawn, Thai spicy salad.

(47) Ruby’s Restaurants: cheeseburger and French fries.

(13) Rusty Pelican: mustard seed-crusted salmon with watercress sauce and garlic mashed potatoes, New England clam chowder, garlic bread, fish on skewers with chile ancho sauce.

(21) San Shi Go Japanese Restaurant: California roll, spicy tuna roll.

(45) Taco Mesa: salmon taco, pork tamal , shrimp jalapen~os, steak taco.

(41) Tony’s Sea Landing: chicken and shrimp brochette, jumbo fried shrimp, oyster shooters.

(77) Tutto Mare: penne pasta with duck sauce, lamb chops with black olive sauce, crab cakes with spicy tomato sauce, cured salmon salad, Italian flan with cream.

(31) Warehouse Restaurant: beef filet kebab, tiger shrimp kebab, red seafood chowder.

(16) What’s Cooking Bistro: grilled marinated baby squid, pasta with porcini mushrooms and eggplant in a light tomato sauce, lasagna al pesto.

(55) Wok Spirit: pot stickers, grilled Chinese chicken salad, cream cheese won tons, chocolate almond cookie.

MUSIC

* FRIDAY

Lawn Stage

7 p.m.: Pete Anderson (country, blues guitarist)

9:30 p.m.: B.B. King (blues)

**

94.7 The Wave Stage

5:30 p.m.: Michael Paulo (saxophone)

8 p.m.: Jeff Lorber (keyboards)

10:30 p.m.: Mike Gealer (saxophone)

**

Fortune Street Stage

5 p.m.: Mike Reilly Band (Southern blues, rock)

7:30 p.m.: The Justice Band (country)

10 p.m.: Common Sense (reggae)

* SATURDAY

Lawn Stage

1 p.m.: Sapadilla (reggae)

3:30 p.m.: Bob Malone (New Orleans-style piano)

5:30 p.m.: Rosie Flores (country)

7:30 p.m.: Lee Rocker’s Big Blue (blues, rock)

10 p.m.: Zachary Richard (zydeco)

**

94.7 The Wave Stage

Noon: One World (world beat)

2:30 p.m.: Akira Jimbo (jazz drummer)

4:30 p.m.: Greg Vail (saxophone)

6:30 p.m.: Doc Powell (R&B;, pop guitar)

9 p.m.: Tom Scott (saxophone)

11 p.m.: Juan Carlos Quintero (guitar)

**

Fortune Street Stage

1 p.m.: The Alley Cats (‘50s doo-wop)

2:30 p.m.: The Chantays (surf music)

5 p.m.: The Suits (Motown)

7:30 p.m.: “Oldies Feast” featuring Lenny Welch and the Tokens

9:30 p.m.: The Vic L’Orange Band (‘50s & ‘60s rock)

* SUNDAY

Lawn Stage

Noon: Saddleback Symphony Orchestra

3:30 p.m.: Missiles of October (folk, rock)

5:30 p.m.: Kelly Rae Band (country)

8 p.m.: Booker T. and the MGs (blues)

**

94.7 The Wave Stage

12:30 p.m.: Freeway Philharmonic (jazz)

2 p.m.: Juan Carlos Quintero (guitar)

4 p.m.: Kilauea (fusion)

6:30 p.m.: Avenue Blue featuring Jeff Golub (jazz, blues)

8:30 p.m.: Dave Camp (saxophone)

**

Fortune Street Stage

12:30 p.m.: Greg Young and the Second Street Band (rock)

2:30 p.m.: Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts (country)

4:30 p.m.: Goldfish (Motown, funk)

7 p.m.: The Jennifer York Quartet (jazz)

8:30 p.m.: Derek Bordeaux Group (Motown)

KIDS’ STREET STAGE

* FRIDAY

6 p.m.: “Jest in Time” Clown Theater

7 p.m.: “Curtain Time Kids”

8 p.m.:”Jest in Time” Clown Theater

* SATURDAY

Noon: “It’s Curtoon Time” TV show

1 p.m.: Orange County Acro Center

2 p.m.: Janet and Judy show

3 p.m.: “Jest in Time” Clown Theater

4 p.m.: Dance City of Newport Beach

5 p.m.: Jim Rule

6 p.m.: “Jest in Time” Clown Theater

7 p.m.: Jim Rule

8 p.m.: “Jest in Time” Clown Theater

* SUNDAY

1 p.m.: “Jest in Time” Clown Theater

2 p.m.: Dave Kinnoin

3 p.m.: “Jest in Time” Clown Theater

3:30 p.m.: Sixton Saturday

4 p.m.: Dance City of Newport Beach

5 p.m.: “Jest in Time” Clown Theater

6 p.m.: Lori Richards

7 p.m.: Orange County Acro Center

8 p.m.: Lori Richards