THURSDAY,OCTOBER1,2020 /// Now including Coastline Pilot and Huntington Beach Independent /// dailypilot.com COVID-19 cases up but mask debate goes on BY MATT SZABO With Orange County staying in the red tier for at least two more weeks and Los Angeles County still in the initial purple tier, the co- ronavirus pandemic remains a major factor in residents’ dining out habits. But in spite of a rising death toll from COVID-19 in the county, one Huntington Beach restaurant has had no qualms expressing an anti- mask position since the early days of the pandemic. Basilico’s Pasta e Vino recently continued that stance, putting up alarge billboard inspired by “The Godfather” movies in Los Angeles Photos by Raul Roa | Staff Photographer near the Beverly Center. A BLOODY ACTOR strikes a pose as cars pass by during a 45-minute drive-through Urban Legends of Southern California at the Orange County The billboard on La Cienega fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Tuesday. Participants drive through four experiential zones in a production that can be enjoyed from inside a vehicle. Boulevard reads, “Leave the mask, take the cannoli,” a play on the Godfather films and the line “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” It shows the well-known puppet- Drive-through haunts eer’s hand, uses the familiar font from the films and directs viewers to the restaurant’s Instagram page. Basilico’s owner Tony Roman New Halloween tradition at O.C. ACTORS POSE said Wednesday in an email inter- as cars stop during view that he felt the state shut- fairgrounds may save Halloween the drive-through down was unjustified and un- from the clutches of COVID-19. Urban Legends of American. He said the Los Angeles Southern billboard was purchased because BY SARA CARDINE California show. “the people on that side of the county line also desire and appre- For a while, it looked like Halloween was ciate American freedom like any- going to be one more holiday on the co- where else.” ronavirus chopping block — with pandemic “Wearing a mask by force, in my restrictions forbidding large gatherings and opinion, is a signal to any authori- person-to-person contact, the thrills of tarian government leader forcing haunted houses and nighttime trickery you to wear it that you have sur- seemed all but doomed. rendered, further emboldening But, with a lot of creative talent and a little them to try and lock us all down ingenuity, a new kind of Halloween tradition for an infinite amount of time,” has been born that even the Orange County Roman said. “If people had ripped Health Care Agency can sign off on. And it parking lot transforms into a stage for a truly a45-minute experience that lets participants off their masks, the lockdowns begins in Costa Mesa on Thursday night. terrifying spectacle — an immersive drive- drive through four experiential zones, each of would have been lifted long ago. Through Nov. 1, the Orange County fair- through Halloween haunt. “Having a restaurant, we are grounds will undergo a sea change, as a mere “Urban Legends of Southern California” is See Haunts, page A3 blessed and fortunate enough to have a profile and platform that al- low for our opinions to be heard. But there are many millions of pa- Sunday’s skate park protest pivots to celebration after triots who think just like us, and we hope our own little demon- Costa Mesa announces parks, playgrounds can reopen stration represents their beliefs too.” BY SARA CARDINE such activities, with masks and See COVID-19, page A3 social distancing for everyone After months of steering small over 2 years of age and other co- children away from taped-off ronavirus precautions in place. slides and discouraging trespass- “The new guidance applies to ing at the city’s skate park, Costa outdoor playgrounds located in Mesa officials announced on so- parks, campgrounds, and other ALSO FROM THE cial media Tuesday that play- publicly accessible locations,” it DAILY PILOT: grounds and other city-operated read. outdoor facilities are now open But it took some online to the public. needling from residents for local “Welcome news for Costa Me- officials to admit the city’s Vol- sa’s kids and families! The city of com Skate Park — which has Costa Mesa will reopen its park been at the center of a cat-and- playgrounds on Sept. 30,” reads a mouse controversy involving post on the city’s Facebook page, trespassing skaters and the rang- explaining play spaces at city ers who cited them — would also parks would reopen. be reopened. Officials explained in the post The city would not allow staff new guidelines released Monday to comment directly on the news Raul Roa |Staff Photographer by the California Department of in interviews Wednesday. Don Leach | Staff Photographer Public Health regarding outdoor But Mayor Katrina Foley and L.A. GALAXY II BEATS ORANGE playgrounds and other outdoor council members Arlis Reynolds NEW GUIDELINES issued Monday by the California Department of COUNTY SC, CLINCHES recreational facilities made al- Public Health has allowed the city of Costa Mesa to reopen its PLAYOFF BERTH PAGE A4 lowances for the resumption of See Reopen, page A3 playgrounds including the city’s Volcom Skate Park, shown above. Orange County chef Paul Cao wins $10,000 on ‘Chopped’ BY MATT SZABO He said he only went on the Sept. 22, and the $10,000 prize Food Network reality cooking that came with it. Paul Cao prefers his privacy. show “Chopped” last summer at “My thing was just make sure Cao is the chef and owner of the urging of his publicist, Kat you get everything on the plate,” Burnt Crumbs, which has loca- Nguyen. The move more than said Cao, 41, an Irvine resident. tions at Pacific City in Huntington paid off. “I’ve seen so many people mess Beach and Irvine, as well as the Cao won the “Soup and Sand- up because they forgot an item or Burntzilla restaurant in Irvine. wich Savvy” episode, which aired forgot an ingredient, and they get chopped.” Cao made it to the third round of the show and avoided being chopped at the end. He created a CHEF PAUL funnel cake ice cream sandwich CAO’S with an assist from his friend and Southern fellow chef John Park, who runs fried chicken Toast Kitchen + Bakery in Costa at Burnt Mesa. Crumbs “I’m not a dessert or pastry guy, casual eatery but I was able to memorize a cou- in Irvine. ple of recipes with the help of my buddy John,” Cao said. “I was like, Photos by Don Leach | Staff Photographer ‘I need to know how to make a CHEF AND restaurant owner Paul Cao recently won on the reality dessert in 10 minutes.’ He said, cooking show “Chopped” and earned $10,000. Cao owns and operates Burnt Crumbs in Huntington Beach and Irvine, but like many restaurant See Chef, page A2 owners, he admits it‘s a challenge to stay afloat during the pandemic. A2 THURSDAY,OCTOBER 1, 2020 DAILY PILOT | COASTLINE PILOT | HUNTINGTON BEACH INDEPENDENT WWW.DAILYPILOT.COM THE DAILY COMMUTER PUZZLE By Jacqueline E. Mathews ACROSS 1As __ as a beet 4__ ease; uncomfortable 9__-eye; sleep 13 Long skirt 14 Racket 15 One of the Three Bears 16 __ up; bolster 17 Rival 19 That woman 20 Ten Don Leach | Staff Photographer Commandments receiver CHEF AND restaurant owner Paul Cao’s Burnt Crumbs is a casual eatery in Irvine. 21 Secret __; spy 22 Point the finger Cao, who has a degree in “I’m not a at CHEF business economics from 24 Fight ref's Continued from pageA1 UCLA and started out as dessert or decision an accountant post-college pastry guy, but 25 Per person SUDOKU 23 Marvin & Cobb ‘The only thing you can before switching his career 27 Singer Franklin 24 Ensnare make that fast is either a path, has tried to stay I was able to 30 Takes the bait By The Mepham Group 25 Shortened wd. funnel cake or a churro.’ ” afloat. After running a food memorize a 31 Fountain orders 26 Devout Cao’s specialty at his truck called The Burnt 33 Sprite Complete the grid so each row, column and 27 "An apple __ restaurants is the spaghetti Truck for a few years, he couple of 35 Feathery 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every keeps" grilled cheese sandwich, and his partners opened digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve two things which might the three restaurants in recipes with scarves 28 Toward the sky 36 Summary Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. not seem to go together. 2015 and 2016. 29 Actress Kirstie Fame might not always be This year, COVID-19 the help of my 37 Roy Rogers' 31 Salon offerings on Cao’s plate, though he forced their closure for buddy John. I lady 32 What's about to said he’s appreciated the about a six-week period 38 Hightail it begin: abbr. hundreds of text messages from late March until was like, ‘I 39 Woodwork 34 Charges he’s received since the Mother’s Day weekend in need to know crevice filler 36 Reign show aired last week. mid-May. 40 Water barrier 37 Lucie's dad He flew out to New York Due to continued slow how to make a 41 Swipes 39 Coat of color City to tape the episode business, Cao said the Pa- dessert in 10 43 Walks leisurely 40 Misplace along with a couple of cific City Burnt Crumbs 44 Pass away 42 Royal orders longtime friends.