Showing off their skills

The Newport Beach Restaurant Assn. on Wednesday kicked off Newport Beach Restaurant Week, which is coming next week, with a preview event at the Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar.

The event showcased some of Newport’s award-winning restaurants that will take part in Restaurant Week from Jan. 22 to 28, when participating restaurants will be offering fare at prices cheaper than usual and special menus.

Aside from music and entertainment, wines and spirits, 15 restaurants featured some of their specialties during the gala, passed appetizers and served their foods.

“Restaurants are a large sales tax generator in the city,” said Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry, who attended the event. “We receive more money from sales tax revenues from food and beverages than from automobile or apparel.”

The event is strategically set in January, which is a slow time for business.

“We see an increase in business of about 20% plus during restaurant week,” said Chris Szechenyi, Five Crowns’ general manager and vice president of the restaurant association.

Sheri Drewry, president of the restaurant association and general manager of Wilma’s Patio Restaurant on Balboa Island, echoed Szechenyi’s sentiment, adding that restaurant week gives all of Newport Beach’s restaurants good exposure at a time when business normally is down.

The restaurant association also serves as the city’s business improvement district. The city gave the association $190,000 this year, which, “in the scheme of the city’s budget,” Curry said, “is not a significant amount of money,” given the benefits that the association brings the city.

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