The Valley Line
My birthday has come and gone and I don’t feel a day older than my heyday when I was in my 30s. However, the mirror quickly brings me back to reality. I spent my birthday celebration at the Las Floristas Headdress Ball at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Julie Pejsa Julie Pejsa was not only my very gracious hostess but also a mannequin. Next week I’ll tell you more about it and show you photos of the fabulous headdresses, for now I have other news to tell you.
It was a truly sweet affair recently when the Junior League of Pasadena held its fund-raiser, called the “Chocolate Chip Ball” at Castle Green in Pasadena. The event was in support of the League’s signature Girls Rock Programs. Over 200 guests attended the black tie optional event, which started with appetizers from Derek’s Bistro, accompanied by the evening’s signature drink, the chocolate martini. Other spirits were served up by the Gallo Family Vineyards. There were sensuous chocolate paraffin treatments from Skin Rituals. The center of attraction that night was when guests had the opportunity to sample some of the tastiest creations in town from five amazing chocolatiers. Mignon Chocolate served up an assortment of chocolates including a divine ginger and sea salt truffle. Elie Chow created a scrumptious chocolate cake with cashews and raspberries. Derek’s Bistro treated guests to double chocolate cupcakes, while the California School of Culinary Arts wowed tasters with a trio of morsels including white chocolate truffle passion fruit, lime and cayenne pepper.
The Kitchen for Exploring Foods tempted tasters with chocolate silk mousse tumblers and mini lava cakes. Although guest were loving every sweet bite, somebody had to decide which chocolate delight was the best of all so there was a very lucky panel of judges to taste and vote. The judges included Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard; newspaper society columnist Pat Diroll; cookbook author and chef David Lawrence; Chef Jennifer Chen; and past-Junior League of Pasadena president and executive director of Pasadena Education Foundation Joan Fauvre, After two tie-breakers, the creations from Chef Darrell Folck and Chef Stephen Chavez from the California School of Culinary Arts were crowned the winners. Three lucky raffle participants won the “Golden Ticket” raffle baskets: The prizes included a wine cellar basket of 200 bottles of wine; a “New Year’s in Pasadena” basket, which included tickets to the Rose Parade and the 2010 BCS National Championship game; and a “Maui Basket,” that included a four night stay on Maui and a $500 treatment package from the Skin Place. Corporate sponsors of the Chocolate Chip Ball included Hahn & Hahn LLP, Taylor Fine Portraiture, See’s Candies, Adville/USA, and Gallo Family Vineyards. Greeting guests at the ball was Sherry Gray, president of the League. Co-chairs for the event was Patricia Gonzalez and Kristen Todd.
JANE NAPIER NEELY has been covering the La Cañada Flintridge social scene for over 26 years. She can be contacted at jnvalleysun@aol.com.