The 14th Annual Newport Beach Restaurant Week kick-off event, held at Fashion Island’s Lincoln Experience Center, drew a sold-out contingent of 160 guests to enjoy foods from eight of the 74 participating restaurants. Presented by Dine Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Restaurant Association, a first-ever partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank was introduced to fight hunger in Orange County. Photography Robert Rooks
Will O’Neill, Newport Beach Mayor, Carlos Godinez, President of the Newport Beach Restaruant Association, Gary Sherwin, President/CEO of Newport Beach & Co.
Tavern House Kitchen + Bar Co-Owner David Wilhelm, right, with Marketing Manager Holly Archambault holding the restaurant’s famous Fried Chicken 
Chef Hiroshi from Buddha’s Favorite holding his dish, Salmon Candy & Mochi, with Sgt Pepperoni’s Pizza Store Manager Macy Watson holding Margherita Pizza 
Guest Jonathon Curci holding the Sugar Snap Peas dish from Fable & Spirit with Chef David Shofner, right
CDM Restaurant + Bar Chef Jonathan Blackford, right, with guest. Blackford served Veal Breast Ravioli 
Provenance Chef Cathy Pavlos sharing her scrumptious dish with guest Alan Gibbons
Coliseum Pool & Grill Chef Erik Sandven, left, holding Braised Pork Belly Sliders, with General Manager Sebastian French 
Farmhouse Chef Rich Mead with a Peacock Farms Hachiya Persimmon Bourbon Pudding dessert