The Crowd: Culinary arts scholarships focus of Table for 10 held in Laguna Beach
Careers in the world of culinary arts have in some cases reached a plateau of celebrity status on par with any of the famous names and faces defining our contemporary culture.
Surely the late Julia Child would be astonished by the level of attention today paid to artistry over the burner. In her day, Child was one-of-a-kind in a limited class. In 2022, that class is made up of many thousands, with literally millions more seeking career paths feeding not only the body but the mind, spirit and heart.
It all makes such perfect sense. What’s more important on a daily basis than our sustenance? And, of course, that sustenance is linked to our overall health and well being. Safe to say, we have all become “foodies” of one sort or another.
In Orange County this month, it was all about food, the best of the best as a nonprofit known as Table for 10 returned to the chic local scene, holding its 16th annual culinary extravaganza set up on the grounds of the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach.
The March 6 alfresco dinner was over the top visually and gastronomically, with chef Ugo Allesina of Prego Ristorante fronting the big event in the role of honorary chair. He joined chef Donald Lockhart in taking command of the impressive overall venue.
All of the phenomenal effort was directed at raising funds in support of chef Pascal Olhats’ scholarship fund for students participating in the Pascal Culinary Arts Program.
By evening’s end, some $300,000 was raised for the scholarships.
Table for 10 has significant moving parts. Thirty local star chefs are invited to each create a show-stopping dining event for 10. We are talking multicourse, out-of-this-world original dinner service (prepared and served tableside), with wine pairings and amazing décor, from florals to flatware to crystal and china to linens.
Noted designer Kristin Martin of KM Productions took charge of the massive event, pulling all the very diverse design elements together creating a tapestry of color and form. It was a feast for the eyes before a single morsel was served.
Patrons in the crowd included a silver platter selection of Newport’s social glitterati. Spotted table-hopping checking out all the design on display were Susan and Tim Strader, major arts advocates in the O.C., along with the lovely Kathy Hamilton and her super dad, David Reed, local philanthropist Janet Curci, Cynthia De Baun, and Sheral and Steve Burke. Also front and center for the culinary arts scholarships were Matt Du Bow, Mike Danzi and Kim Smith.
The charity auction, in the hands of DawnMarie Kotsonis, got plenty of action.
A 52-bottle Shock Wine Tree opportunity drawing donated by the super-generous Mona Lee Nesseth, valued at almost $4,000, was won by Dave and Traci Hoff. Then a $9,000 dining and hotel package donated by Pelican Hill Resort went to the charitable Burke family.
Among the celeb chefs offering private at-home dinners for bidders were Chris Tzorin of Taste Collective, Brandon Hall of Thyme Well Spent Catering, Jonathan Stanley of Dana Point Yacht Club, and event Honorary Chef Ugo Allesina of Prego.
The impressive roster of chefs also included Prabeen Prabathan and Jacob Davis from Balboa Bay Resort and Club, Victor Soto and Daniele Cambria from the dapper restauranteur Ron Salisbury’s Cannery Seafood and Louie’s By The Bay, Elvia Morales from CDM Restaurant, David Martin from Pacific Club, Tetsuya Isogami from Nobu Newport Beach, and Kyuing Carroll from Pelican Hill Resort to name only a few. There was even a long-distance chef doing a table: Charly Houegban came in from Lowe’s Vanderbilt, Nashville, for the affair.
Money for scholarships, which covers tuition, fees, books and equipment, goes to students enrolled in Saddleback Culinary Arts College and Orange Coast College Culinary School.
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