A Nobel Taste

Community leaders joined former California First Lady Gayle Wilson to sample the fare that will be served Thursday at the Nobel Prize Centennial Celebration Luncheon. Nobel laureates will be recognized at the event, to be held at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

Gathered at Gustaf Anders restaurant in Santa Ana, guests at the preview--including UC Irvine Nobel laureate F. Sherwood Roland--dined on cured salmon, breast of chicken and Princess Cake, a marzipan-frosted concoction created to honor the upcoming luncheon’s special guest, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Expected proceeds of about $250,000 from the luncheon will be used to establish a scholarship endowment for the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science. Administered by the University of California, it serves high school students who excel in science, engineering and mathematics.

Grapes Crushed

Symbolizing their desire to stomp out cancer, children and adults took turns crushing grapes in a huge wine vat at the annual Festa della Vendemmia benefit on behalf of the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

Stepping out of her tennies, Cassidy Perrault, 5, was lifted into the vat, where she hopped, jumped and stomped on clusters of fresh red table grapes. “That was fun--wet and smushy ,” she said as her grandmother, Terri Cassidy of Laguna Niguel, hosed off her feet.

About 300 guests attended the event at Prego Ristorante in Irvine last weekend. It included an alfresco buffet and raised $35,000 for the foundation.

“We help support a consortium of six hospitals across the nation, including the Children’s Hospitals of Orange County and Los Angeles,” foundation executive director Nancy Franks said.