Malibu Seen

0
358
Lauren Shuler Donner and Richard Donner show their spirit along with Barbara Lazaroff and Judge Diane Wayne. Photo by Lee Salem Photography

DIGGING IN FOR A GOOD CAUSE

One of the highlights of the sizzling summer season is the star-studded culinary adventure called Cal Spirit. The delectable dining event features a flock of celebrity chefs dishing out an al fresco feast on the glorious grounds of the Ken Roberts Ranch. For more than two decades, food fans have thrown caution (and calories) to the wind, raising more than $11 million for the American Cancer Society along the way.

“We began 22 years ago in the parking lot at Spago with just a few restaurants and a few hundred people,” said hostess Barbara Lazaroff, peering out from her flamboyant feathered chapeau. “Look how we’ve grown.”

The place was dotted with the biggest gourmet guns around. Nobu’s Nobu Matsuhisa, Valentino’s Piero Selvaggio and Spago’s Lee Hefter were out manning their own battle stations and fixing the fare that made them famous.

Dessert diva Sherry Ward was scrambling to get down to her high-calorie headquarters. “I’ll be right there,” she told a group of fans. “Look to the right, I’m next to the key lime pie.”

Melisse’s Josiah Citrin was issuing instructions to go with his incredible eats. “It’s Moroccan spiced lamb spiked with candied lemon, coriander and cilantro dust,” he explained. “Make sure you dip it in the yogurt first, then go for the dust.” As for the Mandarin Tomato, Prawns on Gelee with Tomato Basil Essence, “Don’t skim,” he warned. ” Get that spoon all the way to the bottom.”

For Josiah, Cal Spirit is a labor of love. “I’ve been up all night.” he said. “We try to keep it fresh. Every year, we try to do something a little bit different.”

The line for Nobu, meantime, seemed a mile long. The famed sushi man was cranking out spicy tuna rolls by the dozen wrapped in seaweed and loaded up with avocado, carrot and cucumber. We took a moment out from the festivities to fete Hollywood power couple Richard Donner and Lauren Schuler Donner. Both cancer survivors, the afternoon’s honorees were hailed as “an inspiration to us all.”

There was plenty of action at the silent auction, which included VIP tix to the American Music Awards, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Playboy Mansion and a walk-on role on Steve Carell’s upcoming movie version of “Get Smart.”

After a belly break, it was back to the food. On the lower green, the grazing continued with an all-star line up courtesy of Wolfgang Puck.

Although every morsel is nothing short of magnificent, there is always one stand-out chef that deserves a return visit. This year’s pick? Table 8’s Govind Armstrong, who created a melt-in-your-mouth grilled cheese sandwich packed with pulled short rib and red onion marmalade. Yummy!

The event raised another $650,000 for ACS research, advocacy and education programs, making this one delicious day that was satisfying all around.