Sample Arithmetic : ‘Taste for Life’ Adds Up to Benefit American Cancer Society

Gourmet food, fine wine and great music--the key ingredients for a successful party--were all present in abundance at the South Coast Cancer League’s “A Taste for Life.”

A sell-out crowd of 600 party-goers danced under a cluster of gold paper stars, sampled from among 140 wine selections and tasted gourmet offerings from 21 Orange County restaurants Sunday at the Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center in Costa Mesa. The $125-per-person gala was expected to net more than $200,000 for the American Cancer Society-Orange County Unit.

On Their Feet

For party-goers, “A Taste for Life” is not a typical black-tie gala. Instead of sitting for hours at a table waiting for the next course, guests are free to wander, going from station to station grazing food and sampling wine or just mingling with each other.

“I get very tired of sit-down dinners with rubber chicken,” said Donna Blue, a league founder.

Chefs outdid each other to impress the guests. Alan Greeley of the Golden Truffle, chefs coordinator, decorated his station with a starry night scene that matched the party invitations and served a Caribbean chicken spring roll and a crawfish salad with Tabasco vinaigrette.

Other offerings included rigatoni with lamb and spinach from Gandhi, Oriental salad and gnocchi from the Four Seasons Hotel, smoked salmon and homemade breads from Mr. Stox, seafood salad from Tutto Mare, smoked salmon lasagna from Claes Seafood at the Hotel Laguna, penne with vodka and spinach sauce from Antonello, clam chowder in a French loaf from 21 Oceanfront and a chocolate mousse pastry from John Dominis. International and California wineries poured their best vintages.

Friends for Life

Frankie Laine, a friend of ball chairwoman Mary Dell Barkouras, performed his classic hits, including “Jezebel,” “Rawhide” and “Mule Train.”

“He . . . wanted to do this because I lost my husband (George)) to cancer, and he lost his wife, and he knew how I felt,” said Barkouras, who wore the purple Mary McFadden gown her late husband chose for their wedding.

Mary Hart, co-host of “Entertainment Tonight” and a longtime friend of Barkouras, served as the evening’s emcee and auctioneer.

Hart presented the Excalibur Award to George and Judie Argyros for their contributions to the cancer society, and she introduced Michael and Isabel Mondavi and Ted and Mary Jean Simpkins, who were also recognized for their support.

Later, guests danced to the big band sounds of Barry Cole and his Sounds of Music orchestra.

“A Taste for Life” was first held in 1989 at the Tallmantz Aviation Hangar at John Wayne Airport.

“They took the planes out, and we walked in. There was a 25-foot ceiling, concrete floor and nothing else,” said Jeanne Price, former league president. Despite its humble origins, “Taste for Life” has raised $550,000 during the past few years. Proceeds, including this year’s revenue, go to cancer research, prevention and support programs.

Among the guests were Karen Winnett, president of the South Coast Cancer League, and her husband, Steve; Gloria Ruston, special events manager of the American Cancer Society-Orange County Unit; Ed Griffin, auctioneer; Byron and Ronnie Allumbaugh, Donna Blue, John and Donna Crean, Donna Di Bari, Janet Harris, Tita Loza, Darlene McElroy, Gail Robson, Duane McKay, Mona Lee Nesseth, Pat and Alan Rypenski, and Ed and Linda Sherman.