Food and Wine held for food and soup

Deirdre Newman

South Coast Plaza hosted a culinary extravaganza Thursday with its

11th annual Food and Wine Festival.

The festival between Crate & Barrel and Macy’s Home Store featured

a panoply of culinary riches from restaurants such as Bluewater

Grill, Lawry’s Carvery and Wolfgang Puck Cafe.

The event raises funds for two nonprofit organizations -- the

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Someone Cares Soup

Kitchen in Costa Mesa.

“It’s a fun event and raises money for an invisible part of Orange

County,” said Anton Segerstrom of South Coast Plaza, who originally

selected the charities.

Segerstrom noted that every dollar raised at the festival goes to

the nonprofit organizations.

Merle Hatleberg, 75, started the soup kitchen in 1986 with a

single pot of soup. Her organization has evolved to feed about 250

people a day. She said she is grateful for the financial support.

“It’s wonderful,” Hatleberg said. “They have been doing it for 11

years. It sure puts a lot of beans in the pot.”

Last year, the soup kitchen received about $26,000 which was used

for general operating expenses.

The organization started a tutoring program last year and was able

to double the number of students it reaches this year. It is also

considering starting a program that will help parents assist their

children with homework.

The festival spread out over all three floors of the Center Court

area. The mellow rhythm of South American music from Alturas filled

the air.

Helene DeNoi of Costa Mesa came with a friend who was celebrating

her birthday. DeNoi started the evening with a creme brulee from

Claim Jumper.

“I always like to support Second Harvest Food Bank,” DeNoi said.

“It’s a fabulous charity and they do so much good.”