Eat your way through Newport

One that is new to the event — in name only — is Austin Spencer’s Real BBQ. Formerly Clayton Shirley’s, new owners David Osborn and Eric Webb, who bought out Shirley’s share of the eatery in March, have participated in the Taste of Newport for many years. Osborn said they are prepared for the 500 to 600 people they expect to serve each day.

Their featured fare is sliders, and customers will have their choice of smoked beef brisket, Southern pulled pork or smoked Carolina turkey on a potato bun topped with their original barbecue sauce.

For the undecided, a combination plate with all three is available, along with the restaurant’s “signature hand-crafted potato chips.”

Osborn said being a Newport Beach restaurant and taking part in anything that has to do with the community and the chamber is his favorite part of the event.

“It’s hard work, and we’re beat by the end of it, but we get to see a lot of people we don’t see that often — old friends and family.

We enjoy the music, the bands; it’s a good time for us,” Osborn said.

Another newcomer this year is Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery. Owners Joe and Patrice Mudd were thrilled by the chamber’s invitation to participate.

They’ve been dishing up ice cream at their Balboa Island location for the past three years and have tried to get in at the event before, but were unable because there wasn’t a spot available.

Mudd said trying to prepare for the amount of ice cream they anticipate needing over the weekend has been a two-day endeavor.

The store ordered 400 gallons of cream, made the ice cream, and will be serving five flavors at the event. Chocolate, vanilla and cake batter will always be available, and they’ll add two other flavors each day.

By transporting portable marble slabs with freezer compartments to the event, Maggie Moo’s will be mixing fresh, custom-made treats for ice cream lovers on the spot.

“We’ve been busy, but we’re looking forward to it and we think people are going to be pleased with the taste of our ice cream,” Mudd said.

For a complete list of participating restaurants go to www.tasteofnewport.com.