Spirit of the Holiday

Never mind turkey and the trimmings.

Soup, bread and water were on the menu at the 16th annual “No Lunch, Lunch” held Tuesday at Antonello Ristorante in Santa Ana.

About 60 supporters of the Second Harvest Food Bank joined the Most Reverend Jaime Soto, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Orange, to share a meal symbolic of what the under-served eat on a regular basis.

“This lunch gives members of the Orange County community who are concerned about their neighbors a chance to experience what we have come to call a ‘poor man’s lunch,’ ” said Thomas Fuentes, co-founder of the annual benefit with restaurateur Antonio Cagnolo.

After receiving a ladleful of steaming vegetable soup from chef Franco, guests dined at tables topped with simple white linens and paper napkins.

“This is a lunch that reminds us of the great needs in our community and how we can respond to those needs,” Bishop Soto said. “To live in Orange County is to be in a privileged time and place. We need to make sure that everyone is included.”

Before the luncheon, Fuentes presented Cagnolo, owner of Antonello Ristorante, with the Archbishop Tomas A. Clavel Award for his work on behalf of local charities. The late archbishop, vicar to Orange County’s Latino community, was “a servant of the poor,” Fuentes noted.

Fuentes cited Cagnolo’s charitable work on behalf of nonprofit groups that include the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart.

“His charity is committed to helping needy individuals who struggle to make ends meet with the rising cost of living here in Orange County,” Fuentes said.

Cagnolo was surprised to receive the award that has been given to Orange County leaders such as Mary and Peter Muth, Anton Segerstrom and food bank founder Dan Harney.

“I’m totally speechless,” he told guests. “You [Fuentes] said enough already. Have a nice lunch.”

Food for Thought

Philanthropist John Crean teamed with Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona and author Maralys Wills to discuss their newly published books at a meeting last week of Round Table West.

Along with writer Jim Washburn, Crean, who lives in Santa Ana Heights, has penned a self-published autobiography, “The Wheel and I.”

Crean told book lovers attending the luncheon at the Balboa Bay Club to buy the publication because it “tells you how to get rich,” he said. Crean, 75, is the retired founder of Fleetwood Enterprises, the nation’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles.

Crean said he was complimented on the book last week when he and his wife, Donna, attended a memorial service for good friend and legendary entertainer Steve Allen. The late star’s widow, actress Jayne Meadows, mentioned the book after the couple offered their condolences. “She said, ‘Steve just loved it,’ ” Crean told the crowd. “That was a big thrill. He was a genius; I valued his opinion so much.”

Wills--whose 37-year-old son is battling alcohol and drug addiction--and Carona have co-written a book, “Save My Son” (Hazelden).

The book answers questions about drug and alcohol abuse, and poses solutions and calls to action for members of society.

Carona, whose mother was an alcoholic and died when he was 11, said a large number of Orange County’s repeat offenders are alcoholics and addicts. “We aren’t going to build our way out of this by adding more jail beds,” he said. “We need to stop the revolving door--give them behavior modification, anger management and job training.”

Information on Round Table West: (323) 256-7977.

Puttin’ on the Ritz

Needy children around the world benefited from the 15th annual World of Food & Wine Festival last weekend at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point.

Wine lovers and foodies gathered in the ballroom to sample premiere champagnes and gourmet fare whipped up by internationally acclaimed chefs.

Proceeds of $17,000--from the raffle of a wine cabinet--and an auction that included a stay at the Ritz went to the international charity UNICEF.

“UNICEF helps children survive in 160 countries,” said Anne Kelly, executive director of the Southern California chapter. “Thousands of children die each day of unnecessary causes.”

The No. 1 killer: “Diarrhea from [ingesting] impure water or food,” Kelly said.

Guests at Sunday’s “Tete de Cuvee Brunch” savored dishes such as crab and tuna tartar and sipped a variety of fine champagnes.

“Champagne is the only drink that makes you look better--not worse--after you drink it,” said Jim Duane, a champagne buyer for High Time Cellars in Costa Mesa. “It’s like having a facial.”

During the festivities, hotel general manager John Dravinski joined with renowned chefs Paul Bocuse and Hubert Keller to present chef Roger Verge (owner of the famed Restaurant du Moulins de Mougins near Cannes, France) with the hotel’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Verge thanked the happy crowd for attending the festival and invited them to look him up when they visited France. “I hope to welcome you at Moulins,” he said.

For information on UNICEF: (310) 277-7608.

Arts Awards

Business leaders who have helped promote the arts in Orange County were honored Sunday at the 19th annual Business in the Arts Awards.

The awards were presented by the Orange County Business Committee for the Arts during the event at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Tennis Club. Honorees received an engraved crystal art piece created by Tiffany & Co.

Recognized were the Pacific Symphony; Madeline Zuckerman Public Relations & Marketing; Noelle Corporate Communications; Sanderson-J.Ray Development; Gateway Inc.; Data Into Action; McLarand Vasquez & Partners; the Boeing Co.; Edison International; and Wells Fargo Bank.

Also honored were Latham & Watkins; Tiffany & Co.; Deloitte & Touche LLP; First American Corporation; and the Los Angeles Times’ Orange County edition.

Internationally acclaimed architect Cesar Pelli was guest of honor and keynote speaker at the event. Chosen to design the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s $200-million concert hall expansion project, Pelli told guests that he intended to design “the best concert hall in the world.”

After the awards ceremony, guests adjourned to the Ritz Restaurant in Newport Beach for a dinner underwritten by businesses that included Arnel & Affiliates; Bank of America; Fluor Corp.; and C.J. Segerstrom & Sons.

Ann Conway can be reached at (714) 966-5952 or by e-mail at ann.conway@latimes.com.