Great Taste Magazine

The economy is on the top of everyone’s mind and virtually no industry will be spared the effects.

Businesses across Southern California and across the country are vying for whatever discretionary income customers are willing to part with, all the while watching their bottom line and seeking new ways to keep a handle on the health of their business.

As Great Taste launches into a new year of delivering the latest news and happenings in the Orange County restaurant world we will remain mindful of the challenges ahead and strive to deliver not only the hottest news and trends, but thoughts, insights and ideas of surviving in these difficult times.

By discovering ways to work with our customers shrinking wallets, demonstrating our commitment to their dining experiences and showing them that we are all in this together, we will keep them coming back and help increase loyalty along the way.

With this said it is heartwarming to look back on the end of 2008. When belts were being tightened and layoffs loomed, business was down in most restaurants across the Southland, but local restaurateurs still took the time and made the commitment to give back.

This is especially significant given the current economic trends, when donations are down. The Orange County Rescue Mission reports that donations from companies and private citizens are down 25 percent from the previous year.

And while we undoubtedly missed noting many of you who gave your time, service and food- these accolades belong to you as well.

Sapphire Laguna
Azmin Ghahreman of Sapphire Laguna teamed up with Miracles for Kids and other local donors to deliver over stuffed holiday baskets to families needing financial assistance and cheer for the holidays through its Basket of Miracles program. With support from sponsors such as Newport Harbor High School’s student body, Pacific Foods LLC, board members, volunteers and many others, Miracles for Kids created and delivered over 160 custom baskets during the holidays filled with basic necessities and special items for the children. “Our goal is to alleviate the financial stress that is associated with the holidays by providing our Grant families with items that they cannot afford while their child is in treatment and they are struggling to survive,” says the organization’s executive director, Autumn Strier.

Cucina Alessa
Christmas Eve, Mai & Alessandro Pirozzi snuggled on the couch in front of the television contemplating their first day off in months and planning what they were going to do when they were drawn to the television and a heart breaking piece about a shelter in Tustin for homeless residents, 45 of them children, that had absolutely nothing for Christmas. Since the restaurant was closed, Mai hit the phones calling all their friends to round up blankets, toys and gifts for all while Ale began to plan the menu. Early Christmas morning with Alessandro’s parents, who are visiting from Italy, they went to the restaurant to prepare dinner for the 150 residents, delivered and served it at Village of Hope, Orange County Rescue Mission and had the most rewarding Christmas ever.

Newport Rib Company
Commemorating 25 years of serving delicious barbeque throughout Southern California, twenty-five local area schools and charities were selected to receive cash donations from Newport Rib Company for the month-long fundraising event, 25 Days of Charity. From November 5 through November 30, all dining patrons had the opportunity to select from these 25 participating local schools and organizations to receive donations from Newport Rib Company. At the end of each meal, 20% of the dinner receipt was set aside for the selected charity. Over $30,000 was raised and distributed to all charities at the closing ceremonies on Tuesday, December 2.

La Casa Garcia Res and We Give Thanks, Inc.
For the past 22 years, La Casa Garcia Restaurant and We Give Thanks, Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization founded by restaurateur and philanthropist Frank Garcia, has been serving free Thanksgiving Dinners to those in need in the greater Orange County region. To accommodate an estimated gathering of over 15,000, Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks once again joined forces with We Give Thanks, Inc. for this year’s event which took place at the Honda Center Thursday, November 27, 2008, Thanksgiving Day.

Melting Pot OC
The Melting Pot OC hosted “Thanks & Giving”, a two-month-long fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During November and December for every $10 St. Jude donation made at The Melting Pot Brea, Irvine and San Clemente a “Thanks & Giving” dip card worth $20 was rewarded. Sales from the “Big Night Out” menu also went to St. Jude’s. The Melting Pot’s three Orange County locations raised a total of $43,500.

RA Sushi
To help spread holiday cheer, RA created the Salvation Roll, a specialty roll made with crab mix, fresh water eel and cucumber rolled and topped with crunchy red tempura bits then drizzled with sweet eel sauce. From Dec. 12-24, $2 from every roll sold was donated to The Salvation Army to benefit the Southern California fire victims and those in need during the holidays.

Charo Chicken
On Monday, December 15, 2008, in order to provide needed support to Orange County Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank, 2,500 pounds of Charo Chicken’s signature product was delivered to Orange County Rescue Mission’s dynamic Village of Hope facility. Charo Chicken Owners Moe Bonakdar and Ray Perry and Rescue Mission Vice President of Operations Bill Riemer were onsite to oversee the delivery.

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill
A team of Orange County servers helped keep Christmas alive by “adopting” a local family plagued by tragedy and hard times. Orange residents Carlos and Rafaela Cuniga were already stretched thin by the financial burden of raising two teenage grandchildren. Over the past year a series of setbacks have made times even harder yet the family remained positive and Rafaela continued to volunteer daily at the El Modena Family Resource Center. When the staff at Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill learned about the Cuniga’s they decided to “adopt” the family for the holidays. The family was treated to a pre-Christmas luncheon and received $500 and an iPod Nano for each child (donated by the nationally recognized Community Action Team, a Long Beach nonprofit founded by Justin Rudd).

STRIKE Orange County, Ingardia Brothers Produce, and SYSCO Food Services
The Strike Orange County staff was more than happy to volunteer a day of service on November 27 for 300 low-income families that enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner compliments of Strike OC, Ingardia Brothers Produce and SYSCO Food Services. The bowling entertainment venue was closed to the public as the staff & volunteers teamed up to create a family fun event for their guests that included a day of unlimited bowling and arcade games.

Daily Grill
On Thursday November 4, members of the Long Beach Fire Department donned aprons, flipped pancakes and offered “service with a smile” when they hosted 100 first grade students from Cesar Chavez Elementary School. The breakfast kicked off the annual Spark of Love toy drive and was sponsored by the Daily Grill at the chain’s Long Beach restaurant. “During these trying economic times, it’s important to remember that there are those who are experiencing even greater hardships and we hope that the toy drive will help bring some joy into their lives,” said Kevin Kinard, general manager of Daily Grill in Long Beach.

TAPS Fish House & Brewery
To bring holiday cheer to the ‘tweens and teens of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Brea, Placentia and Yorba Linda, TAPS Fish House & Brewery in Brea once again gave a certificate to their award winning Sunday Jazz Brunch Extravaganza to anyone who brought in a gift card with a minimum value of $20 to donate to the kids. A total of 65 gift cards were presented to members of the Club at their annual Christmas party.

Salt Creek Grille
Salt Creek Grille, Dana Point kicked off a two-week food drive on December 14^th by donating 10 percent of the day’s proceeds to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. For the next two weeks customers who brought in any non-perishable canned or packaged food item to the restaurant received a free dessert. “Donations of both food and financial support have been significantly impacted as a result of the economic crisis,” said Pete Truxaw, who co-owns the 12-year-old eatery with Tim McCune. “Consequently, we have decided to try to heighten the awareness for the need to continue to give to this critical source of sustenance here in Orange County.”

Five Feet Restaurant
On Tuesday, November 25, Michael Kang held their 16th Annual Turkey Cook-off to benefit Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa.

Blue Agave Southwestern Grill
As Orange County fires burned 118 homes and a 50-unit Yorba Linda apartment complex, Chef/Owner George Gilardo of the Blue Agave Southwestern Grill in Yorba Linda, rounded up his friends at Sysco Foods and Friends Christian Church. His kitchens, accustomed to preparing Southwestern cuisine, cooked 500 turkey dinners with all the trimmings and served local families and firemen at the church.