It’s the Whole Enchilada for the ‘Tamale King’

In one of the most carefully researched menus ever to hit the Orange County social scene, chef John Rivera Sedlar--known in food circles as the Tamale King--will prepare a traditional Early California hacienda feast at a benefit for Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The meal for the inaugural Romance of the Bells gala Oct. 2 will begin with a 150-pound zacahuil tamale--”the grandest, most dramatic of all fiesta dishes,” Sedlar said--and finish with a bitter-chocolate tamale crowned with edible gold leaf.

Guests will enjoy a dinner inspired by the food prepared when the mission was the center of community life in the late 19th century, said Sedlar, who has whipped up his gourmet tamales for President Clinton and such stars as Madonna and Warren Beatty.

“The haciendas, the rancheros, the California Indians, the Spanish missions, the cowboy cattle drives--they were all influences on how people ate when the mission [San Juan Capistrano] was at its peak,” he said.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit the renovation of the mission’s Great Stone Church, which was damaged by an earthquake in 1812.

“The Great Stone Church had seven domes--and one of the two remaining is endangered,” said Jerry Miller, executive director of the mission. “The face of the dome is falling away, and we need about $600,000 to support it with steel rods--front to back.”

The zacahuil tamale--which has its origins in Veracruz, Mexico--will be served on a buffet table as an appetizer for about 500 guests.

“ ‘Zacahuil’ is an Indian word that means something stuffed with many ingredients. We’ll stuff this one with lamb, chicken, pork, duck, ostrich, venison, wild boar, lobster, shrimp, scallops, crab and white fish,” Sedlar said.

Not to mention “hard-boiled eggs, florets of cauliflower and corn on the cob,” he added.

The six-foot tamale will take three days to prepare. “The first day, the meats, fish and vegetables are seasoned, seared and marinated,” Sedlar said.

“Then we need a day to prepare the masa and banana leaves that wrap around the tamale. On the third day, we assemble it and cook it on a stove for about seven hours.”

Also on the dinner menu at the benefit staged by the Friends of the Mission: petite taco appetizers--”including a Japanese taco made with green tortillas stuffed with shrimp, wasabe and Japanese cucumbers,” Sedlar said--and a main course of lamb with nopalito (cactus).

Dinner plates will be decorated with a stenciled motif of a Spanish church. Sedlar and his crew will sift paprika, curry and cumin over each plate to achieve the effect. (Hostess tip: Stedlar uses Jensen Rubber Stamps in Long Beach to create his custom, hand-cut stencils.)

The gala is open to the public. Information: (949) 248-2048.

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Apres-theater party: Supporters of South Coast Repertory streamed into the Ferragamo store at South Coast Plaza on Friday following the theater’s premiere night performance of “The Philanderer” by George Bernard Shaw (at SCR through Oct. 10).

Besides ogling the upscale leather goods, guests sipped fine wines and cruised a gourmet buffet as they buzzed about Shaw’s century-old tale of a man who routinely skirts marriage in search of “higher love.”

“I love Shaw--took a whole class in him when I studied [in England],” said Liza Segretti of Newport Beach. “Unfortunately, I’ve known men like [the philanderer], and I know exactly how the women in his life felt.”

Style note: “The color gray is still coming on strong,” observed a store spokeswoman as she eyed gray bags and shoes in muted patterns of zebra and plaid.

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Balboa bash: The Divas of the Balboa Theater raised $20,000 at their “Reunion”-themed benefit held in Balboa on Thursday night.

Members of the theater support group gathered aboard the Don Juan yacht to sample desserts such as Italian plum upside-down tart and coconut cake before joining 400 people at the nearby Balboa Pavilion to hear a concert by Reunion. The singing group features Jim Pike and Bob Engemann, formerly of the Lettermen.

“Jim Pike used to sing with Stan Kenton at the old Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa--and here he is, returning to Balboa,” said Dayna Pettit, president of the Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation. (In the audience: Joanne Kenton of Corona del Mar, former wife of the famous bandleader.)

The old Balboa Theater is “completely gutted--an empty shell,” Pettit said during the preconcert reception catered by Britta Pulliam. “We’re hiring a theater consultant next week to help us develop our conceptual plan.”

Pettit plans to reopen the venue next fall with a festival featuring a variety of performances. “We’re going to present the ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ along with drama, dance, concerts and kids’ stuff,” she said.

Foundation members have raised $1 million toward the theater’s renovation. They have another million to go, said Michele Roberge, executive director of the foundation. “When it opens, the Balboa Theater is going to be the artistic jewel of the Newport Coast.” To join the Divas: (949) 673-0895.

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Dining with a duchess: Looking for new ways to set a party table? The Duchess of York may be able to help. As the U.S. spokeswoman for Wedgwood china, Fergie will come to Macy’s at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa on Sept. 30 to set a table her way: using the mix-and-match method with china and decorative accessories.

“She’s going to show people how to break the rules--have fun with their table settings,” a Macy’s spokeswoman said. Tickets are $10 each for the afternoon program, which is open to the public. Proceeds will benefit the Orange County Chapter of High Priority, a national breast cancer prevention and information network. Information: (714) 556-0611.