Photo Gallery: Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party

Guests stop at a dessert display from Laurent Vrignaud of Moulin during the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday night at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

The dessert table by Laurent Vrignaud of Moulin was popular among guests at the the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

The Olea restaurant crew, including chef Jared Cook and partners Kyle Simpson and Russ Bendel, from left, chat with guests during the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday night at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

Olea restaurant representatives, from left, chef Jared Cook, Russ Bendel, Abraham Arreaga, Kyle Simpson and Keanu Graham gather at the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

Bites of seared rare ahi tuna by chef Yvon Goetz of the Winery restaurant were available for tasting during the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday.

The Mayor’s Table restaurant at the Lido House hotel offered spicy tuna bites on toasted bread at Thursday’s Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

A swirled lemon tart from Laurent Vrignaud of Moulin was among the offerings at Thursday night’s Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

Olea restaurant served bites of duck liver pate during the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday night at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

The Great Maple restaurant offered charred cauliflower hummus by chef Saloman Razo at the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

Chef Eunjoo Pluenneke offered small plates of spicy Korean pork tacos from Balboa Lily’s during the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.