Mark your calendar, because Sunday May 16th is the 23rd Annual STAR CHEFS & VINTNERS GALA, a benefit for Meals On Wheels of San Francisco. Nancy Oakes of Boulevard is back for her seventh year as the gala chef chairwoman, the leader of culinary talent for the always-stellar event.
The gala is MOWSF’s largest fundraiser, and its main source of charitable contributions for the year to provide food to home-bound seniors. There will be more than 70 notable chefs participating, including Mourad Lahlou (Aziza), Sean O’Toole (Bardessono), Maggie Pond (César), Jan Birnbaum (Epic Roasthouse), Chad Newton (Fish & Farm), Chris Cosentino (Incanto), Todd Humphries (Martini House), Mark Dommen (One Market), Staffan Terje (Perbacco), Chris L’Hommedieu (MICHAEL MINA), Laurence Jossel (Nopa/Nopalito), Peter McNee (Poggio), Richard Reddington (REDD), Robert Leva (Salt House), Mark Sullivan (Spruce), and Parke Ulrich (Waterbar).
75 of California’s leading vintners will also participate in the gala, many of them providing wine pairings for each of the dishes. Participating vintners include J. Vineyards and Winery, Frog’s Leap Winery, Duckhorn Wine Company, Hanzell Vineyards, Pride Mountain Vineyards, Landmark Vineyards, Poem Cellars, and Three Sticks Winery. At a specialty cocktail bar, bartenders Scott Beattie (Hangar One), Jon Gasparini (Rye), Scott Baird and Aaron Smith (15 Romolo), and Daniel Hyatt (The Alembic) will serve up fantastic cocktails.
The evening begins at 5pm with an hors d’oeuvre and wine reception from more than 30 chefs and wineries, followed by a three-course, sit-down meal, with each course prepared by one of 27 different chefs. The evening culminates with a lavish dessert reception featuring sweets from Yigit Pura (Taste Catering), Sara Spearin (Dynamo Donuts), Jake Godby (Humphry Slocombe), and Bill Corbett (Coi & Il Cane Rosso).
During both live and silent auctions, guests will have the opportunity to bid on a number of once-in-a-lifetime items, including a party at a luxury penthouse in Sun Valley, Idaho featuring the culinary creations of Nancy Oakes, a ten-day Mediterranean Silversea Cruise, a wine connoisseur package featuring several “unobtainable” wines, and private dinners and cooking classes with celebrity chefs. The evening’s exciting climax is “Fund-A-Route,” in which guests pledge cash donations towards funding an entire meal delivery route for the next year. Guests at the 2009 Gala shattered previous records by raising their paddles to the tune of $311,000 for “Fund-A-Route,” while the event raised a grand total of $1.1 million.
Individual tickets are priced at $400, with patron levels ranging from $1,500 to $20,000 (see below for details). To reserve tickets or for more information, call or visit www.mowsf.org.
[PLEASE NOTE THERE IS ALSO A FUNDRAISER FOR MEALS ON WHEELS ALAMEDA ON APRIL 23RD WITH NARSAI DAVID IN OAKLAND. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.]
Event Info
Sunday May 16, 2010 5pm–11pm $400 and up Details/tickets Fort Mason's Festival Pavilion, San Francisco Marina Blvd. and Buchanan St. 415-343-1280
