1,400 epicurean guests wined and dined for a good cause at the sold-out event held on the “Midwest Street” backlot at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. The generosity of the crowd in conjunction with 900 live and silent auction items raised $1,590,000 for the Foundation’s vital research and care centers. I admired the entertaining energy of premier auctioneer DawnMarie Kotsonis, who sold an Imperial of 2005 Château La Mission Haut-Brion for $22,000 as well as a 6-liter 1996 Domaine de la Romanée Conti Romanée Saint-Vivant for $10,000.
When I participate in an event that features multiple chefs, I like to designate the most interesting dish. That night it was a duck magret tartare on an endive leaf, topped with shaved foie gras and seasoned with figue vinegar prepared by chef Thierry Dufour of the hotel Marquis Los Cabos. Chefs Alain Giraud, from Anisette, and Josiah Citrine, from Mélisse, can not blame me for my selection, as they were out of food when I got to their tables. At the end of the evening, I had fun tasting the foie gras lollipops prepared by chef Jonathan Wood of Park Grill located at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City. While posing with chef Rory Herrmann and sous-chef Katie Hagan-Whelchel from Bouchon Beverly Hills, I had quite a few samplings of steak tartare, which tasted as well as it should.
