Chef helps raise money for culinary education

Corona del Mar residents Steve and Ruth Bein were thrilled when they learned that a dinner prepared by their family friend, Roy’s Restaurant founder Roy Yamaguchi, had attached to it a worthy cause.

On Wednesday, the self-proclaimed wine connoisseurs went to Costa Mesa’s Center Club with son Bob Bein and Hugues Bolduc, both of Newport Beach, to feast on foie gras and Cajun-style pan-fried opakapaka “When we heard, of course we wanted to be here,” Bolduc said. “Now that we know it’s for charity, it’s a double pleasure.”

The event was part of the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour, benefitting culinary education.

Although it was an honor to be recognized, Yamaguchi said it was all about the charity.

“Basically we’re talking about the founder of American cooking,” Yamaguchi said. “It’s great to be honored [and] to help them.”

— Amanda Pennington