Great Chefs of LA Event benefiting the Kidney Foundation on November 8th, 09 (Preview and Coverage)

 

It was a beautiful sunny day on the studio lot at CBS Radford. We were surrounded by celebrities, great food and tasty wines all for a good cause. Once again actor/comedian George Lopez came out to help raise money for the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California
at the 23rd Annual Great Chefs of Los Angeles event on Saturday, November 8th. This event has raised over $4.5 million for the foundation since 1987. The culinary extravaganza draws around 500 guests each year although with booths set up all around a tree-lined street on the lot, it feels more like a neighborhood block party with people milling around tasting food, drinking wines and listening to music. Some of the food highlights were: Yoji Tajima, SHU – Sushi House Unico- delicious sushi over brown rice, pop up sushi, tender pork belly and eggplant stuffed with Spaghetti. 

 

Pom Wonderful was there serving up their delicious Pomegranate drinks, little cups of pomegranate seeds and some delicious chocolate cupcakes infused with pomegranate juice.

There was a lot of red meat this year. Meat lovers enjoyed dishes from: BLT Steak, Saddlepeak Lodge, Ford’s Filling Station, and more.

 

This year the theme was “Go Green, Go Organic” promoting eco-conscious living and sustainability, utilizing organic foodstuffs and eco-friendly products throughout the party. Guest left the party with Get Hip Get Green’s reusable gift totes stuffed with $250 worth of goodies from leading green and eco-friendly companies, including LaRocca Skincare, Healing Skin, Utter Cream, Eco-Panda, Herbal Water, Nelson J Salon, Alterna, OPI, Explorer’s Bounty, Celtic Sea Salt, Edward & Sons Trading Co., Pop Chips, Robert’s American Gourmet and Little Laura’s Sweets, among others.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2009   MEDIA ALERT

GREAT CHEFS OF LA "GO GREEN, GO ORGANIC"
National Kidney Foundation of Southern California Showcases L.A. Top Toques and Tastemakers
Led by Chefs of Honor Neal Fraser, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger

WHO:

George & Ann Lopez Kidney disease survivor George Lopez and his wife and kidney donor Ann Lopez, both national spokespeople for the National Kidney Foundation, welcome supporters and celebrity friends such as Andy Garcia, Jennie Garth, Peter Facinelli, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Stanley and Deana Carter to the event, which will recognize Chefs of Honor Neal Fraser (Grace, BLD) and Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (Border Grill, Ciudad) for their outstanding contributions to the L.A. culinary scene and past work with the NKF. The Chefs of Honor will present awards to their fellow participating chefs to spotlight the use of local, organic and sustainable ingredients. Hostess Chef Candace Kumai, The Stiletto Chef of TLC’s “Cook Yourself Thin,” will serve as emcee for the event, and will also host the GCLA Webfire Challenge webisode series sponsored by 944 magazine. The four-part video series pits Great Chefs Neal Fraser (Grace, BLD), Jimmy Shaw (Loteria Grill) and Jonathan Burrows (Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs) in a cook-off that tests their creativity and quick-thinking skills, with George Lopez lending his humorous insights and commentary to the challenge. The GCLA Webfire Challenge kicks off on Oct. 19 on 944.com/greatchefs, with the top toque announced in the finale episode during the week of Nov. 2.