The Crowd: Festival of Chefs dazzles donors; Newport playwright debuts ‘Tucked Away’
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More than 400 donors converged on the expansive event lawn of Newport Beach Country Club this summer for the 6th annual Festival of Chefs, celebrating a culinary extravaganza featuring some 60 Orange County-based restaurants and their acclaimed chefs and professional staffs.
The master class was championed by the culinary team at Newport Beach Country Club with Aric Mattson, Diego Velasco and Victor Soto assisting in the production and execution of the massive food event featuring many “cooked tableside” exhibitions.
The extensive effort was all created to benefit KidWorks, a nonprofit with the mission of nurturing and inspiring young people living in central Santa Ana, providing opportunities through education and enrichment programs otherwise not available to them. To date, Orange County generosity has supported KidWorks programs to the tune of some $6 million.
Serving on the event committee this year were KidWorks Board members Cory Alder, Bobby Gorby, Pat Merrell and Tim Strader, Jr. Also on the event committee were Lisa Alder, Annie Gorby, Trish and Guy Johnson, Laticia Merrell, Tracy and Kevin Murphy, DeDe Soto, Camille Strader, Mackenzi and Cameron Stuart; Kyle and David Team and Holly Tarbell.
“We cannot thank our chefs, sponsors and donors enough for their remarkable generosity that helps our students overcome the obstacles they face to lead successful, productive lives,” said David Benavides, KidWorks’ executive director.
Among those spotted in the crowd were Noel and Kathy Hamilton, Todd and Natalie Pickup, Jeff and Patti Estabrooks, Peter and Kristi Bacci, Heidi and Ruben Mendoza and Joe Moody.
To learn more about KidWorks, visit www.kidworksoc.org. A list of all the event sponsors can be found at kidsworksoc.org/chefs.
Newport playwright Joni Ravenna presents ‘Tucked Away’
Produced by the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, Newport Beach based author and playwright Joni Ravenna’s “Tucked Away” is showcased on the boards of the Helen Borges Theatre Sept. 19-20. “Tucked Away” is part of the theater’s “Stuff of Legends” series.
“Tucked Away” won several festivals as a one act, but now is a full-length production. It was selected for a staged reading last year at the Costa Mesa Playhouse and then re-written. “Tucked Away” is about four very different young women held captive on the top floor of an abandoned building with no electricity or running water, part of the human trafficking scheme. The characters must find a way to connect in order to finally break free.
For tickets and information visit the Borges Theatre website at lbshakespeare.org.
