A Tasteful Affair
Serious eaters rejoice. It’s almost time for a foodie’s favorite fling-Wolfgang Puck’s American Food and Wine Festival. The celebrity chef’s gourmet graze-a-thon takes place Oct. 3 at the Universal Studios backlot. Every year, Puck and Barbara Lazaroff bring in the country’s top chefs for an unforgettable evening of amazing flavors, great grapes and marvelous music. Among this year’s notables are gourmet gurus Thomas Keller of French Laundry, Nancy Silverton of Mozza, Mark Peel of Campanile, Nobu Matsuhisa of Nobu and Valentino’s Piero Selvaggio.
Of course you can always count on Puck to bring in his own A-list crew, including Spago’s Lee Hefter and Thomas Boyce, Ari Rosenson of Cut, Matt Bencivenga of Red Seven and Cameron Lewark of Spago Maui.
The festival is now in its 27th year and has raised $15 million for Meals on Wheels. The organization delivers thousands of meals to seniors, homebound and disabled people every day.
Yo Ho Ho
The venue was Beverly Hills, but at least the libations had a local twist. Malibu Rum hosted a splashy bash to benefit the Reef Check organization. There was an unseasonable chill in the air and that meant goose bumps all around for the bikini-clad models who provided the evening’s eye candy.
In keeping with tradition, Reef Check stuck with a tropical theme. The party palace was done up with colorful branches of faux coral, oversized shells, Tiki-inspired furnishings, Hawaiian prints and classic longboards. Guests mingled poolside sipping “Reef Check Refreshers” and “Malibu Surf Shooters” while DJ Zen Freeman cranked out the tunes.
Reef Check’s mission is to protect and rehabilitate underwater ecosystems worldwide, including tropical coral reefs and California’s rocky reefs. The organization has lots of local fans like longtime supporter and diving devotee Daryl Hannah.
Batter Up!
Baseball fans of every stripe headed to Dodger Stadium for some peanuts and Cracker Jack, and most of all, to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. They checked out the Dodgers versus Cubs game as part of “Bat for a Cure.” Susan G. Komen is the largest non-profit fundraiser for breast cancer research and education. Eighty percent of the donations go directly to research, education and medical services.
Next week, the Los Angeles friends of Komen will put on a fashionable front. On Sept. 24, they’ll be hosting Fashion for a Cure at Smashbox Studios. Supporters will get a sneak peak at the new Diane von Furstenberg collection.
One thing’s for sure, whether it’s at the ballpark or on the runway, supporting a cure never goes out of style.
Got a hot happening or cool event? Send the 411 to kimdevore@malibutimes.com.