Benefit Alfresco With a Full Plate

Italian-flavored delicacies inspired by the traditional midsummer festival celebrated in Italy were featured at the Ferragosto gala to benefit the Orange County chapter of Childhelp USA last weekend.

On the menu: whole roast pig, fresh Maine lobster and jumbo shrimp whipped up by chefs at the popular Tutto Mare restaurant.

The backdrop for the event, held in the Neiman Marcus courtyard in Fashion Island in Newport Beach, was a theatrical depiction of an Italian village. Mimes and jugglers entertained as hundreds of guests sipped cool drinks and sampled the fare.

The gala, chaired by Christine Bren and Jana Shuler, raised about $35,000 for the prevention and treatment of child abuse.