Fine dining for art

The second Art of Dining dinner at the Sawdust Art Festival netted about $5,500 to benefit a film project for artists, Sawdust public relations director Cynthia Fung wrote in an email.

Forty-nine diners paid $175 each to enjoy a three-course meal from Three Seventy Common Kitchen + Drink executive chef and owner Ryan Adams. The meal was served on hand-crafted dinnerware made by 20 Sawdust artists.

The purpose of the Art of Dining event, sponsored by the Inn at Laguna Beach, is to raise funds that will benefit the Sawdust Art Education Fund and be used for a 30-minute educational artist video.

These films, which were put on hold since 2009 because of lack of funding, are an integral part in supporting Sawdust’s mission and will serve in educating the public as guests come through the summer festivals each year, Fung said.

The dinner was part of Visit Laguna Beach’s “Celebrate Good Taste” event, which was a weekend celebration of food and drink in Laguna and included special prix fixe menus created by chefs from multiple restaurants.

— Bryce Alderton