‘Dinners Across Laguna’ Fosters Friendship

The Friendship Shelter staged an intimate dinner party for 200 guests Saturday by splitting them into groups and entertaining them simultaneously at nine homes throughout Laguna Beach.

Some of the courses for “Dinners Across Laguna” were prepared by Orange County’s leading chefs and delivered to each home. The $100-per-plate dinner was expected to raise $20,000 for the Laguna Beach shelter, an Orange County rehabilitation center for homeless single men and women.

Setting the Mood

The evening’s ambience varied from house to house--from a romantic candlelit dinner by the sea to a buffet-style hoedown in the hills.

Each host created entrees for 10 to 40 guests, while area chefs did the rest. Some hosts served swordfish, standing rib roast, fish or tenderloin. Hors d’oeuvres were provided by Michael Kang, owner of the Five Feet restaurants, while salad, breads and desserts were provided by David Wilhelm of West Coast Productions, Cafe Zinc and Gustaf Anders.

Greg and Kathleen Abel, event chairwoman, staged a dinner for 30 at their home--a kind of storybook castle designed by Greg, an architect. Their back yard overlooks a steep canyon where one home slid and burst into flames during the recent storms.

“Greg heard the house starting to crack, then it blew up,” Kathleen said.

The Abel home survived the storm intact. Inside the dining room and bar, two long tables were draped in lace and set with tall white candles in silver holders. A large bouquet of white roses added to the elegant atmosphere. Guests enjoyed an entree of fish breaded in macadamia nuts with papaya relish and a chocolate walnut torte for dessert.

Giving Shelter

After the dinner, Barbara Clippinger, program director of the Friendship Shelter, carried out one of the evening’s chief goals--spreading the word. Friendship Shelter has helped more than 1,200 men and women since its opening in 1988.

“Families, youth, battered women were being taken care of by agencies, but there was no one to help single people,” Clippinger said.

The shelter, a two-story apartment building, provides temporary housing, food and support services such as counseling, job preparation, substance abuse and budgeting skills to 27 people at a time. Clients stay a maximum of two months.

“This gives them an address and phone so that when they’re applying for a job they can be reached,” said Hazel Lafler, a shelter volunteer.

The dinner was the shelter’s first major fund-raiser.

“We hope it will grow so next year we’ll have 20 houses across Laguna,” Clippinger said.

Other hosts were Kevin and Stephanie Donovan, Howard and Leanne Englander with Jeff and Linda Jahrus, Ed and Joanne Halvajiau, Joie and Becky Jones with Gary and Betsy Jenkins, Greg and Barbara MacGillivray with Lou and Dottie Moss, Dom and Judy Roguly, Calvin Smith and Gay Sutherland. Party-goers included the Rev. Colin Henderson, executive director of the shelter, Alice Graves, board chairwoman, Laguna Beach Mayor Lida Lenney, Al and Molly Cutler and Eri and Mary Lou Mettler.