You Can Roll Out of Bed and Into Brunch

Hate to get dressed up for brunch? Here’s something you’ll like: Stay right in those PJ’s, robes and slippers and head over to the Back Bay Cafe’s weekly Saturday Morning Pajama Party. All who come “properly attired” receive 25% off their breakfast bills. And this Saturday, proceeds from the morning will be donated to the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter for the homeless. The buffet-style brunch is $6.95, served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. 1131 Back Bay Drive, inside Newport Dunes Resort, Newport Beach. (714) 729-1144.

Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana in Irvine will celebrate its first anniversary Tuesdaywith a blessing of the oven ( il fornaio means “the baker man”) and special lunch and dinner menus. The Panificio blessing, in accordance with an age-old Italian tradition, will be performed for invited guests at 11:30 a.m. by Father Kenneth O’Keeffe of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Irvine. The three-course luncheon ($12.95), served from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., will offer such entree choices as scaloppine Marsala con funghi , tagliatelle with pancetta and pecorino cheese and pasta hat stuffed with roast chicken in casany garlic sauce. Dinner ($19.95), from 5 to 11 p.m., will feature four courses; entree choices include free-range chicken from the rotisserie and Petaluma duck brushed with balsamic vinegar and rosemary. 18051 Von Karman Ave. (714) 261-1444.

Let the Beaujolais Nouveau flow! Nov. 19 is the date set this year by vintners and the French government for the release of this young wine. To celebrate, Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach has planned a weeklong French regional dinner menu and a Beaujolais weekend dinner-dance package.

The French regional specialties will be presented in Cafe Fleuri nightly, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Monday and running through Nov. 20. A selection of cellared Beaujolais wine will be served by the glass or bottle all week. A strolling French accordionist will play.

The dinner-dance, part of an overnight package on Nov. 21, will cap the celebration. A bottle of the new Beaujolais and an assortment of cheeses will await guests in their rooms. A four-course dinner, complete with a bottle of Beaujolais per couple, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Cafe Fleuri, where the Christian DiMaggio trio will perform. The Beaujolais dinner-dance overnight package (with 8 p.m. Sunday checkout) is $92 per person plus tax, based on double occupancy. 4500 MacArthur Blvd. (714) 476-2001.

By the way, be sure to catch the Eiffel Tower constructed of cans at Cafe Fleuri through Nov. 20. The 25-foot structure, made of 750 cans, is designed to draw attention to a drive for canned foods, personal care items and baby needs, which the Food Distribution Center serving Orange County will deliver to more than 230 agencies helping the needy. Collection barrels are in the hotel, and the hotel’s valet service also will accept items.

Meanwhile, at Pascal in Newport Beach, the annual Beaujolais Nouveau dinner is scheduled for Nov. 20 and 21, with seatings each night at 6 and 8:30 p.m. The traditional Lyonnaise dinner will include sausage, pates, pike quenelles, a choice of entrecote or free-range chicken with Lyonnaise sauce, imported cheeses and warm apple tart. The $49.50 dinner includes a bottle of the Nouveau for each couple and live accordion music. 1000 N. Bristol St. (714) 752-0107.

More wine dinners: John Dominis’ next wine dinner, Tuesday at 7 p.m., highlights the Edna Valley winery. Chef Robert Reash Jr. will complement the wines with five courses, including lobster medallion with banana chutney wrapped in a crepe and marinated seared ahi with potato hand roll and wasabi plum vinaigrette. The cost is $55 per person, tax and gratuity included. 2901 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. (714) 650-5112.

Chef John McLaughlin will serve Robert Mondavi wines with a special five-course menu on Friday at JW’s in the Anaheim Marriott, 700 W. Convention Way. Highlights of the menu: steamed Maine lobster with sweet corn and crisp polenta, osso buco of wild boar with barley risotto. Seatings between 6 and 10 p.m. (714) 750-0900.

At Bistango, Wednesdays are wine dinner nights as chef Paul Gstrein matches four courses with wines from four wineries. The dinners cost $37.50 plus tax and gratuity and are served between 5 and 10:30 p.m. 19100 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 752-5222.

The Single Gourmet dining group will visit Carmelo’s in Corona del Mar tonight, Dizz’s As Is in Laguna Beach on Monday and Mystery Cafe in Santa Ana Heights on Nov. 20. Pascal, Five Crowns and Bistango are on the list for December. These evenings begin at 6:30; costs range from $39 to $52. Information: (714) 854-6552.

Create your own pasta dish at the $9.95 All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Festival every Thursday and Friday night, 5 to 9 p.m., at Capistrano’s in the Crown Sterling Suites, Santa Ana. First, pick your favorite pasta. Next, sauce it with garlic cream marinara or olive oil and herb. Then choose from such toppings as chicken, scallops, hot sausage, ham with Parmesan and mixed vegetables. Capistrano’s is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and dinner nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. 1325 E. Dyer Road, Santa Ana. (714) 641-4901.

In Newport Beach, the Ingham family recently introduced Tuesday and Wednesday family nights at Tapas Bar and Grill. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the house paella for two is $12.95; a four-course dinner of beef kebab appetizer, soup or salad, choice of pasta and creme caramel is $9.95. The special kids’ (under age 10) menu lists healthful and hearty selections for $1.99. The offer is effective through the end of the year. 4253 Martingale Way. (714) 756-8194.

Tidbits: Carmelo Manto, owner of Carmelo’s Ristorante in Corona del Mar, has been named executive vice president of Ciao Italia. This international association of Italian restaurant owners and food importers is dedicated to promoting Italian cuisine and to establishing a culinary institute. . . . Abdel Hamid (former assistant general manager of the Catch in Anaheim) is the new general manager of Trattoria Spiga in Crystal Court, Costa Mesa. Spiga’s original chef de cuisine, Roberto Saracino, has returned to the restaurant after a six-month sabbatical in Italy.

JW’s California Grill in the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Tennis Club now combines contemporary dining with contemporary art. On exhibit through the holidays are acrylics by Sandra Campbell, Vicki Cole’s paintings on glass and Bridget Hoff’s mixed-media collages. 900 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach. (714) 640-4000.