Many tastes for single cause

One of the season’s most unique dining events for a worthy cause

unfolded recently at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort in Newport Beach.

The American Liver Foundation held its second extravaganza, which

organizers called “Flavors of Orange County” in the club’s ballroom

by the bay.

Twenty-one of Orange County’s most celebrated chefs were invited

to prepare dinner for a table of 12. In other words, each set of

patrons in the ballroom dined on a specially prepared and served

meal. Each chef prepared a five-course dining experience, complete

with full wine service and creative table settings.

The Sunday evening black-tie affair began with bayside cocktails

at dusk. Music filled the air as handsome donors perused auction

items in anticipation of their dining surprise to come.

Balboa Bay Club executive chef Josef Lagader hosted the evening

with legendary Orange County restaurateur and chef Alan Greeley,

owner of Costa Mesa’s the Golden Truffle. The pair of culinary

talents joined forces with Alan Ashkinaze of Aqua, Katie Averill and

David Pratt of Mirabeau, John Cuevas of The Loft at Montage, Yves

Fournier of 6ix Park Grill, Yvon Goetz of Culinary Adventures and

Azmin Ghahreman of The St. Regis Monarch Beach. Other culinary stars

included Rodrick Wilker of French 75, Andrew Sutton of Napa Rose,

Pascal Olhats of Pascal, Richard Mendoza of 21 Oceanfront and Matt

McLinn of Splashes, to name just a few.

Said Newport’s Kathy Hamilton, co-chair of the event and a Liver

Foundation donor: “What an exciting evening. The lineup of chefs is

fantastic. We had a complete sell-out, with patrons reserving tables

as far as two months in advance to be a part of this experience.”

“Each table is transformed into an oasis within the ballroom where

the chefs can showcase their talents while raising funds for a worthy

cause,” Lagader added.

Lido Isle’s John and Anne Wortmann were in the crowd, supporting

the foundation.

“We were really looking forward to this evening,” said John

Wortmann, the newly appointed chairman of the Board of Governors of

the Balboa Bay Club.

Wortmann assumed the top job following years of service to club

and community by Costa Mesa Ford dealer Bob Robins, supported in his

role by philanthropic wife Ginni.

“We were checking out all the other tables to see what everyone

was eating,” Wortmann continued. “This was a fun night for a good

cause.”

On the serious side, the evening was an opportunity to acquaint

the social community with fellow Orange County citizens fighting

liver disease.

One of the participating chefs had a very personal reason to

participate. Ashkinaze’s son Jack was diagnosed with biliary atresia

at seven weeks of age. The rare disease occurs when the intestine is

not connected to the liver. A very risky operation saved baby Jack,

now 4 1/2 years old, but he lives with serious complications and

daily medicine to protect his life.

Newport Coast resident Tom Stitch was diagnosed with primary

sclerosing cholangitis in 1982. This disease required a partial

transplant, with his wife Deb Lex as donor, in 2000. Stitch has had

no complications since the surgery, and both he and his wife are

doing well.

Also in the crowd, having survived various serious liver related

illnesses, were John Roder, Susan Ford and Todd Carlson.

To find out more about the American Liver Foundation, please call

(949) 464-2034.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.