A tasty epicurean ticket around the world

Suzie Harrison

Laguna Art Museum’s Wednesday benefit, “Around the World ... A Taste

of Travel and Cuisine,” doesn’t require a passport; yet it will take

you on an international excursion geared to please the palate and

tempt the travel bug.

The event will offer fine cuisine, entertainment and a live silent

auction of international travel and epicurean packages.

“The event is unique; the fact that it zeros in on travel -- there

isn’t any other event that does that,” event chair Bonnie Macmillan

said. “It also combines travel and cuisine, which makes it unique.”

“Celebrity guest chefs” from area upscale resorts will prepare a

culinary creation, including Montage Resort and Spa’s chef John

Cuevas and Surf and Sand Resort’s executive chef Matt McLinn.

“It really zeros in on all the best chefs at the best resorts in

the area,” Macmillan said. “The chefs donate their time; we work with

them on the menu, so each chef will be serving something different.”

Laguna Culinary Arts will provide a wide selection of cheeses from

around the world during cocktail hour.

A sampling from the menu will include wild mushroom ravioli,

grilled salami salad and Maryland crab cakes. For dessert, Seduction

Chocolate will provide a chocolate bar.

“The value of the auction [items] is $125,000. A lot of that

includes wonderful hotels all over the world,” Macmillan said.

Auction items will be for a vacation to Paris and Provence valued

at $3,200; rejuvenation packages at the Chopra Center in San Diego

valued at a total of $65,000; stays in Ireland, Greece, New York City

and San Francisco, to list a few.

This year’s raffle prize is a complete travel package for two with

two first class round-trip tickets to Hawaii on Aloha Airlines, a

four-night stay at the Kona Village Resort, airport transfers, three

meals per day, plus all sporting activities. Raffle tickets are $100

each and will be limited to 125 available.

Last year’s event brought in more than 230 attendees and this year

Macmillan expects 250.

Macmillan said the idea for the theme came from the results of a

survey.

“A survey in town found that fine cuisine and travel came highest

on the list as interests,” Macmillan said.

Museum marketing and public relations director Stuart Byer said

each of the museum’s fundraisers are integral.

“Each event is important and contributes to keep the museum’s

ability to enhance our exhibitions and run our education programs and

efforts,” Byer said.

“Around the World ... A Taste of Travel and Cuisine” will begin at

6 p.m. at the Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

Tickets are $100 for museum members, $125 for nonmembers and $250 per

couple and include a one-year family membership to the museum, valued

at $75. For information or tickets call (949) 494-8971 Ext 200.