Food, Fun & Fighting Cancer

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Farshid Hakim, owner of La Provence Pâtisserie & Café with Sophie Gayot

by Sophie Gayot The winning dish at Concern Foundation’s 36th Annual Block Party, held on July 10 at the Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, was the sweet corn agnolotti by Savore Catering. But honestly, I could not try every single one served on that fun night. Out of the 63 restaurants and refreshment stations, an increase of six from last year, I only had time and room to try ten. My apologies to the rest. This year, the 3,000 participants walked around in the New York streets of the back lot animated by a friendly big top theme. Between the ticket sales and the auctions, over a million dollars was raised to fight cancer during the evening. Jim Morrison, founder of Sexy Hair and former president of L’Oréal hair care products, was honored by Concern Foundation for his efforts in the community to help further advancements in cancer research, along with his wife Ishita Ganguly. Watch my exclusive interviews with the ten chefs or restaurant owners I met at, as well as the words of Derek Alpert, Concern Foundation president, Carla Daly, executive board member, and Frank Mottek, the MC of the evening.

Bar Hayama, chef/owner Toshi Sugiura

Dominick’s, owner/partner Brandon Boudet

Il Cielo, chef/owner Pasquale Vericella

Joss Cuisine/Traditional, partner Beulah Ku

La Provence Pâtisserie & Café, owner Farshid Hakim

Larchmont Grill, chef/owner Sean Bates

Lilly’s French Cafe & Bar, chef/owner Yon Idiart

Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs, chef/owner Jonathan Burrows

Savore Catering, partners/chefs Michael Morrissette, Richard Lauther, Daniel Elkins

Simon L.A., executive chef Marius Blin

For more charity events we attend, go to our Charity Events category in GAYOT.com’s blog.

You can click on each photo to enlarge.

: The team from the artisanal bakeshop Bakelab

: Owner/partner of Dominick’s and Little Dom’s

: Sponsor Cadillac presenting its new SRX

: Members of the Club Culinaire of French Cuisine: Marius Blin

: Master of Ceremonies Frank Mottek from KNX Business Hour over M Café table

: Beulah Ku

: Actress Julia Alexander with Bob McCormick from KNX 1070

: Sean Bates of Larchmont Grill

: Lawry’s The Prime Rib

: Chef Jonathan Burrows from Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs

: The backlot streets of Paramount Studios filled up

: The New York streets under the Big Top

: The streets of the Paramount Studios

: Pasquale Vericella of Il Cielo with chocolate soufflés

: Pink’s Hot Dogs and their famous hot dogs

: The team of Savore Catering: chefs Richard Lauther

: Is there Someone In The Kitchen?

: Concern Foundation president Derek Alpert with Sophie Gayot

: Lemonade table

: Honoree Jim Morrison

: Tom LaBonge

: Farshid Hakim

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