Santa Ana’s efforts to establish itself as an arts and cultural center may get a huge boost. The Insider hears that serious talks are under way to have The British Museum establish a site in Santa Ana for some of its ancient artifacts, making the city the renowned museum’s Western U.S. home. The facility might be put near the Bowers Museum, which handled the British Museum’s recent “Egyptian Treasures” traveling exhibition,and handled it so well, the Insider is told, that the Brits were receptive to a permanent arrangement. Mayor Miguel Pulido recently returned from a European trip where he pressed the city’s case
…. A year and a half in a suit and tie was enough for laid-back super-cook Cliff Huffstetler. He’s quit his job as executive chef with Sodexho Marriott Services and is reopening Cliff’s Ragin’ Cajun this week. Huffstetler’s takeout sensation has been relocated to Jamboree Promenade, at Dupont and Jamboree in Irvine, where it joins New Tokyo and Gyro King, two other exiles from the defunct Plaza de Cafes. At SMS, Huffstetler oversaw a staff of 51 for a public company that serves cafeteria and hospital food. “It wasn’t a lot of cooking. It was more supervision, and there was always schooling.” One of the good things about the experience: “I learned to work a computer” More gastronomy: Kathy Murphy makes the world’s best tri-tip, and she has the trophy to prove it. “I get up every 10 minutes and hug it,” she said from her Ranch Hands catering service office in Santa Ana. Murphy and her team, headed by grill chef Mark Soden, won the title by beating 40 other competitors from as far away as Kansas City at the June 9 Barbecue & Blues Festival in Long Beach. Murphy said there’s only one way to get her barbecue,throw a party for at least 50 people and have Ranch Hands cater it Register business columnist Jon Lansner has a new column photo; he doesn’t look like Jesus anymore The Duo-Tones, Jon and the Nightriders, the Johnny Lopez Band, the Bel Airs, the Chantays, Deke Dickerson and Dick Dale are lined up for the Endless Summer Jam on July 23 at the Hyatt Newporter benefiting the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. For tickets call (949) 223-3800 David Nix, major account manager for telecom outfit Broadwing in Irvine, has come forward to claim the SKYDVE license plate featured in last week’s column. He’s been jumping out of planes for 21 years. n
