Last night Anson and I were fortunate to attend another inaugural event. This time we didn't just make it up, like our First Fridays dinner, it was a benefit for Community Senior Serv, a great organization that provides meals for older adults. Most of you know it as "Meals on Wheels."
Living in a community of so much excess, it's hard to believe that there are people out there who don't have enough food. Such a basic need, it's outrageous that it's not met for some people. Well, for the last 42 years CSS has been doing it's best to meet that need for thousands of people and last night was their first Celebrity Chef competition at the Anaheim White House.
My employer donated food for the event from Barilla, La Brea Bakery, Michael Foods, Ventura Foods and the secret ingredient---Phillips Crab. The event paired Orange County celebrities with chefs from Orange County restaurants in an Iron Chef-like competition. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez paired with Hussain Zouhbi from the Westin South Coast Plaza, State Senator Lou Correa with Elvis Gonzalez from the Anaheim Hilton, OC Board of Supervisors Janet Nguyen with Eldon Pico from the Renaissance Club Sport Hotel, Cal Optima CEO Richard Chambers with Jacques de Quillen from Pescadou Bistro and Olympic Volleyball gold-medalist Reid Priddy with the White House's own Eddie Meza.
They had to create a dinner using crab in every course, just like the TV version, though I don't think the had to make dessert. Probably a good decision because I honestly can't think of any dessert that crab would improve. Loretta and Hussein won for the appetizer course, they made a crab salsa. I'd love to tell you what other great dishes the chefs came up with, but I honestly don't remember, I was having too much fun talking to the interesting people at our table and enjoying the food.
The dinner itself was great, including penne pasta topped with Phillips crab, a mixed green salad served in a tall rice paper basket with the most delicious Passion Fruit vinaigrette. The Chicken Picatta main course featured a foot-high piece of flatbread shaped into a rounded sky-scraper type form. We rounded it out with profiteroles filled with creme Anglais, fresh strawberries and another large spun-sugar sculpture in the middle. I wasn't in photographer mode, but Anson got a shot of the dessert platter. Good thing it wasn't windy!
Our friends, Amy and Kevin, accompanied us and ended up winning an apron signed by all the chefs in the silent auction. What a fun night, and to know that it was for a good cause made it really rewarding.
If you'd like some information on Community Senior Serv, go to their website.
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