Newport party dishes out a preview of Restaurant Week

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A short rib served over Yukon gold potato in a martini glass was among the items from the Bungalow restaurant available to guests at the Newport Beach Restaurant Week kickoff party Thursday night. Restaurant Week will run Monday through Jan. 27.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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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.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

By Daily Pilot staff

Jan. 11, 2019 10:45 AM PT

Newport Beach previewed its annual Restaurant Week on Thursday night with a kickoff party presenting a “culinary journey” of area eateries.

The preview of the festival of dining — which actually is two weeks, running Monday through Jan. 27 — was held at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island.

Among the offerings were dishes from the Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, Olea, the Bungalow, Five Crowns, Balboa Lily’s, Moulin, Great Maple and the Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub & Kitchen.

More than 60 restaurants around town will participate in Restaurant Week with special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus. The discounted fixed prices will range from $10 to $25 for lunch and $20 to $50 for dinner. No tickets are required.

For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, go to visitnewportbeach.com/restaurant-week.