O.C. Chef, Maitre D’ and 4 Restaurants Honored

Alan Greeley of the Golden Truffle in Costa Mesa was named chef of the year, and Peter Jepsen of the Ritz in Newport Beach was named maitre d’ of the year by the Southern California Restaurant Writers at their annual meeting this month.

Four restaurants in Orange County--Antoine in Newport Beach, Antonello Ristorante in Santa Ana, the Cellar in Fullerton and JW’s in Anaheim--each received a Golden Sceptre award, the top honor given by the writers. Only two other restaurants in Southern California--El Bizcocho in Rancho Bernardo and Rex il Ristorante in Los Angeles--received the award, which recognizes food and value, beverages, service and ambience.

The writers’ group also gave Golden Bacchus awards for wine lists and service. Winners in Orange County were the Cellar, Five Crowns in Corona del Mar and Mr. Stox in Anaheim. Community service awards went to Hans Prager of the Ritz and Michael Kang of Five Feet in Laguna Beach and Five Feet Too in Newport Beach.

The 32nd restaurant in the California Pizza Kitchen chain will open at 2957 Michelson in Irvine next month. Now under construction, it will seat 142 indoors and 24 on the patio, according to Kara Hein, spokeswoman for the Pepsico-owned/Westwood-based chain. California Pizza Kitchens are known for such unusual pizza toppings as guacamole and Peking duck.

Pero’s Italian restaurant in Huntington Beach will host an evening with artist Ken Jungjohann, a California native, on Monday from 6 to 9 to kick off an exhibit at the restaurant of Jungjohann’s work. There will be South American harp music, free champagne and appetizers. The exhibit of more than 50 illustrations and sculptures will continue through June 28. Pero’s is open for dinner from 8 to 10; 2221 Main St., in Seacliff Village. (714) 960-7764.

McCormick & Schmick’s, which operates a seafood restaurant at 2000 Main St. in Irvine, will open its fourth California location on Monday at 111 Los Robles Ave., Plaza Las Fuentes, Pasadena. Designed by Larry Hart of Portland, the 9,000-square-foot restaurant will feature hand-crafted Honduras mahogany and stained-glass windows depicting scenes of California. (818) 405-0064.

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