Sending Out an S.O.S.

The event: The fourth annual Wild & Crazy Tacos benefit for Share Our Selves in Costa Mesa. The nonprofit agency provides food, shelter, financial aid and medical services to the needy.

Tacos Loco: More than 200 party-goers mingled at the S.O.S center, sampling tacos filled with delicacies such as tripe and turtle meat prepared by 10 Orange County chefs. Alan Greeley of the Golden Truffle doled out tacos made with smoked snapping turtle he’d imported from a Louisiana seafood company. “Tastes like pork,” said one amateur food critic at last week’s event. There were even dessert tacos--pistachio toffee shells filled with sweet custard concocted by Pascal Olhats of Pascal’s.

Quote: “A lot of our clients are working people who need help,” said Karen McGlinn, executive director of S.O.S. “We can buy them food, fill prescriptions, even get the lights turned on [in their homes]” if they have not been able to pay their electricity bills. “We’re a stabilizing force.”

King Kang: Chef Michael Kang of Five Feet in Laguna Beach came up with the idea for a taco night as a preliminary event to S.O.S.’s annual Orange Aid dining extravaganza, where many of the same chefs create a sit-down feast. “This is a great opportunity to meet the chefs. We don’t have to be so uptight. We can cut loose,” said Kang, as he prepared blue corn tacos stuffed with sauteed sweetbreads. “It’s a way to generate younger support and bring people through the facility.”

Faces: Other chefs were John McLaughlin, the Summit House; Andrea Hill, Sutton Place; Ted Gray, Newport Meat Co.; Gwen Kvavli Gulliksen, the Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center; Jack Kalustian, Newport Harbor Yacht Club; Jean Pierre LeManissier, Le Chardonnay; and Christian Rassinoux, the Ritz-Carlton. Also in the crowd: S.O.S. founder Jean Forbath.

Bottom Line: Including the $25-per-person tickets and individual donations, the event was expected to net $10,000 for the center. Proceeds will be used to help underwrite the cost of Orange Aid.

What’s Next: The chefs will again show off their culinary artistry at Orange Aid, a $150-per-person feast to benefit S.O.S. on April 26 at the Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center in Costa Mesa. On the menu: Indonesian-inspired fare. For information, (714) 642-3451.