MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH PARTNERS WITH SHARE OUR STRENGTH TO HOST TASTE OF THE NATION®

[ The 2009 Event.]

Executive Chef Craig Strong Joins Forces with Other Area Celebrity Chefs in Effort to End Childhood Hunger

On May 22^nd, 2011, Montage Laguna Beach will host Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation^®, one of America’s leading culinary benefits, in hopes of eliminating childhood hunger across the nation.

Seven celebrity chefs will share their passion and skills in preparing fresh farm-to-table delicacies to further Share Our Strength’s dream of ending childhood hunger by 2015. Attendees will enjoy an afternoon of delectable dishes, wine, signature cocktails, live music, and the picturesque panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean at Montage Laguna Beach. “In our ongoing commitment to the culinary focus at Montage Laguna Beach, we will be pairing each chef with local farms and wineries that will allow our guests to experience hyper-local food and wine for the ultimate farm-to-table experience,” said Todd Orlich, General Manager of Montage Laguna Beach.

Executive Chef Craig Strong of Studio, Montage Laguna Beach’s Signature Restaurant, will be joined by:

• Chef Scott Conant –Scarpetta Beverly Hills & Food Network judge and host
• Chef Richard Ruskell – Executive Pastry Chef at Montage Beverly Hills, Food Network “Challenge” winner and star of upcoming Food Network “Last Cake Standing”
• Chef Mark Peel – Campanile, Los Angeles & Food Network “Top Chef Masters”
• Chef Joachim Splichal – Patina, Los Angeles
• Chef Alex Stratta – Alex, Las Vegas
• Chef Alan Wong – Alan Wong’s Restaurant, Honolulu 

“Montage is proud to support such a wonderful cause and be a part of an amazing organization,” said Todd Orlich. “We are committed to Share Our Strength and that is why we have asked some of our closest friends in the industry to come together to help raise awareness for childhood hunger.”

As contributors to the charity’s cause, guests can choose between two of the following event packages:

• Celebrity Chef Tasting 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $150 per person or at the door for $175 per person.

• VIP “Meet the Chefs” Reception 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Complete the night with VIP treatment and a sunset toast. Enjoy the Celebrity Chef Tasting followed by an after party to mingle with the chefs. Valet parking and post-event gifts are included. Tickets purchased in advance are $250 per person and $275 at the door.

The revenue from each ticket purchased for Taste of the Nation^® goes to Share Our Strength’s “No Kid Hungry” campaign that advocates ending childhood hunger in America by increasing access to nutrition programs and investing in effective community organizations to fight hunger.

For more details regarding Taste of the Nation at Montage Laguna Beach and to purchase tickets, visit www.tasteofthenation.org or call (877) 26TASTE (82783).

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry(tm) campaign-a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015-Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy meals on a budget, and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, both nationally and at the state level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved in the No Kid Hungry campaign.

About Montage Laguna Beach

Montage, set on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific in the heart of the vibrant arts community of Laguna Beach, offers 30 acres of oceanfront luxury.  The 250-room craftsman-style resort features beachfront accommodations; a 20,000-square-foot spa; destination dining at Studio; a wealth of outdoor recreation, including three pools, beach and water sports; a fine art collection; and more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. For information and reservations, please contact Montage, toll-free, at 1-888-715-6700; or visit the Web site at www.montagelagunabeach.com.

Chef Fabio Helps Olive Crest Raise Money for OC Children!

[Left to Right:  Casey Reinhardt of Casey’s Cupcakes, Darrel Anderson, Olive Crest Chairman of the Board and President, Retired, Knott Anderson Enterprises, Marsha Anderson, Darrel’s wife and Orange County philanthropist, and Chef Fabio Viviani]

OCG: You recently participated in a fundraiser here in Orange County with Olive Crest called “Harvesting Hope.” Did you have a good time?
CF: I did! I had a great time!  Raising money for a good cause and sharing my recipes is what I love to do.

OCG: What was your favorite part of the night?
CF: The auction was a lot of fun and I look forward to cooking for several of the generous donors to Olive Crest.  Casey’s Cupcakes were delicious too!

OCG: Why was this cause close to your heart?
CF:I love kids and any time I have the chance to give a child a better life, I will do anything to help. 

OCG: How did you like Orange County/Newport Beach?
CF:It’s beautiful! How can you go wrong with the ocean at your doorstep? I live in LA and it’s much more peaceful down here.

OCG: Apparently your cooking demonstration of the Mediterranean Style Pan Roasted Chicken was very entertaining and quite the crowd pleaser. Where does your sense of humor come from? 
CF: My grandma taught me to have fun in the kitchen and that is what I try to do.  To me, cooking is spending time with family and friends and enjoying the company, wherever you are.  

OCG: What’s your favorite dish to prepare?
CF:I love risotto.  It’s easy and delicious and you can make it a thousand ways.  I dream of new ways to make risotto. 

OCG: What’s next for you? Any events or projects in the works?
CF:This May, I’m coming out with an iPad application with Bertolli Olive Oil.  Download it and you’ll get 16 of my exclusive step-by-step videos of some of my all-time favorite recipes.  It’s going to be a lot of fun.

OCG: To help raise money, you auctioned off a four-course meal prepared by you for the winner at their house. Are you excited for that very private cooking gig? Have you already thought of the menu you’ll prepare?
CF: Definitely. It will probably be something light and delicious for the spring using fresh herbs and vegetables. I love grilling vegetables and even fruit.  

OCG: If you had to give our readers the number one secret to being a great chef, what would it be?

CF: I can’t tell you my secrets!

Olive Crest's Annual Harvesting Hope Event

I had the opportunity to attend Olive Crest's annual gala on March 19th- the Harvesting Hope for Kids event at Newport's Big Canyon Country Club. I went last year just before we printed a spotlight on Olive Crest. The Olive Crest Foundation has transformed the lives of over 50,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families in Orange County. Olive Crest is truly one of the most inspiring nonprofits in OC. 


At this year's Harvesting Hope For Kids event (which is an annual gala and fundraiser), we had the pleasure of watching Chef Fabio of Top Chef give a cooking demonstration. I got the chance to meet Chef Fabio personally (and have him sign a copy of his cookbook for me!), and he is so nice (and hilarious) in person. 

He was a great addition to the night's events, which also included a silent auction, a live auction, an opportunity drawing, more food and wine than you could imagine, and a cupcake bar!

Casey's Cupcakes provided the goods- from cupcakes to cake pops- that got us all salivating. Casey's Cupcakes just opened a location in Laguna Beach, by the way! Here I am with my friend Samira, enjoying a cupcake (or two) from Casey's Cupcakes:

Check out Olive Crest on their website (one simple way to help is by registering your Ralph's card- it's free!)
and read our article on Olive Crest here.

-Blythe

on my iTunes: Bon Iver's "Brackett, WI"

Vonda Shepard Returns To The Coach House

Vonda Shepard has a career that most artists only dream of - one that successfully spans decades. Beginning in the 80's, Vonda hit it big with "Don't Cry Ilene" and her duet with Dan Hill, "Can't We Try." Then she took the 90's and 2000's by storm with her 5 year stint on the incredibly popular TV show "Ally McBeal" (who's theme song she wrote and performed) where she played the sexy lounge singer onscreen, and music producer for the show offscreen. Vonda hasn't slowed down since. She's put out four albums since 2002 and is still touring worldwide as we enter 2011. We were able to chat with Vonda about how she balances touring with being a mom, her latest studio album of new songs "From The Sun," and why she loves Orange County. Check it out:

OCG: Is it hard balancing your touring schedule and being a mom? 
VS: In general it's very tough balancing work with having a child, as so many parents understand.  The kind of work I do often requires self motivation, as in sitting down at the piano to practice, or to write.  Because I write at home, if my son comes home from preschool and I see his adorable face, it's going to be very tough to force myself to stay at that piano when I could be playing baseball with him, or chasing him around the house!

OCG: You shared the stage with My Chemical Romance this Christmas for KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas show. Did it feel like you were back in your days singing backup for Jackson Browne or Rickie Lee Jones? 
VS: I did sing with My Chemical Romance on that show, as well as Conan and Jimmy Kimmel Live.  It was a blast singing back-ups again, especially for a rock band, which is really a first for me.  My good friend Carmen Carter got me the gig.  I often call her when I'm producing music for T.V., so she returned the gesture.   It really was like the old days, only I needed earplugs in this case!  (They were lovely, very respectful guys, by the way).

OCG: That was a different genre for you. Do you enjoy branching out musically like that and collaborating with various musicians? 
VS: I do enjoy branching out, and mostly, I love to sing, so when I got the call I said "sure, why not... sounds fun!"  Also, I got to hang backstage and be onstage with two of my favorite people, Carmen Carter and Lorraine Perry!  Singing with them really pushes me to be strong... I wish I could bring them on tour with me!

OCG: Who would you love to collaborate with in the future? 
VS: I'd love to do a song with Seal.  I adore his husky, loose, beautiful voice, as well as his unique chord changes.  Would love to write something with him... and tour with him.  (Seal, are you out there?  Maybe you're having a coffee in some cafe in Orange County this very moment and reading this!  Woo hoo!)

OCG: Any other music genres you’d like to try? 
VS: I had the wonderful opportunity when I was on Ally McBeal to do a few songs with horns, which we often doubled or tripled in the studio, giving the effect of a big band.  I loved having that powerful horn section behind me, and have had visions of doing a big band style album (but one needs a budget for this!)  I also love African music, specifically Habib Koite and Oumou Sangare.  To somehow collaborate with them would be absolute heaven for me.  A friend who knows Habib pulled me up on stage with her and a few other friends to dance while he played and sang to us... my dream night.

OCG: You’ll be back home playing some shows here in LA and Orange County at the Coach House. What’s the best thing about playing “home town” shows?
VS: Home shows can actually be a bit stressful.  It's sort of like being the host of a party where you want everyone to enjoy themselves, so there can be a bit of pressure.  However, it's also fun to look out in the audience and see my best friend singing all of the lyrics to the songs, or to see my sister smiling and giving me encouragement.

OCG: You’ve played the Coach House a few times now. Are you excited to come back? 
VS: I'm so excited to come back.  I've been playing there since my first album came out in 1989, so I have some history there.  I have a fantastic band, with tremendous talent and energy, so the show should really be a lot of fun.  James Ralston on guitar (Tina Turner for 22 years!), Jim Hanson (Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, etc...), and Michael Urbano (Sheryl Crow, Smash Mouth, etc..).

OCG: You’ll be playing songs from your most recent album, From The Sun. How was this album different from your past albums? 
VS: From The Sun leans on the soulful side of my voice, and has tight, stacked background vocal parts that really add another dimension to this album and to the live performance.  Most of the guys on the album will be with me, so it will sound like the real deal.  I feel that From The Sun is my most focused album since It's Good Eve, which came out in 96'.  We will also do songs from Eve, Chinatown, By 7:30, as well as some favs from my former day job!

OCG: What is your favorite song on the record? 
VS: My favorites are "I Know Better" and "Another January."  For those who do not have the record yet, you can pick it up on my website vondashepard.com.  We sell the CDs through CD Baby.

OCG: You play a lot of great covers at your shows too. What’s your favorite cover to play?
VS: My favorite cover to play is "Sweet Inspiration."  I remember the day I first heard that song, driving down Pacific Coast Highway;  I got the chills and became quite thrilled at the prospect of recording the song.  It's one of those that I will probably play forever- it really gets people on their feet!

OCG: Where do you see yourself five years from now? 
VS: Well, I'm not having any more children, so I'll have a 10 year old in school.  I will probably only tour in the summer and on weekends, but I don't think I will ever give up touring, as long as people are in those seats!   I have a dream of writing songs for movies, which is not far off, possibly (I sang in the movie "Love and Other Drugs" recently for James Newton Howard).   Perhaps another T.V. show is on the horizon...in town work is always good!   But wandering the streets of Prague, Bucharest, Paris, Hamburg, knowing I have a show that night at a lovely theater ... well, in the words of Ina Garten, "how bad could THAT be?!"

OCG: Since you’re a Southern California girl, what’s your favorite thing about Orange County?
VS: I know it's a cliche, but the weather and the beaches.  I love walking north, toward Malibu, and seeing the magenta Bouganvillia blooming on the mountainside and watching the marine layer roll in off the ocean.  Throw in a Mojito, and this is really shaping up to be a good day.  


Don't miss Vonda Shepard at The Coach House in San Juan on Friday April 29th! You can get your tickets here. You can also listen to her album From The Sun here. Check out her video for "I Know Better" below.

The Weir

Last night, I spent the evening in an old pub nestled deep in the Irish countryside, well off the beaten path. There was a biting wind that was howling outside and seeping into the cracks of the old building. Inside, the coal-burning stove gave the room a welcoming glow and provided just enough heat. In front of it was an old rug so worn that its pattern was unrecognizable, and a chair with tattered upholstery. The stools and chairs in the pub were all mismatched. The bar itself was covered in knick-knacks and had an old broken TV. You could tell the walls housed a lot of memories and conversations and had seen a lot of laughter, definitely some brawls, and maybe some tears, too.

Last night, I spent the evening with four Irishmen and an Irishwoman—Jack, Brendan, Jim, Finbar, and Valerie. Brendan, the bartender, was quiet but polite, and a good listener. Jack, a mechanic, was downing pints impressively fast, and although he seemed jovial enough, I wouldn’t want to cross him. Jim was the most quiet of everyone, but as the night progressed, he opened up a bit. Finbar, in a white suit and pink dress shirt, stood apart from his simply-clothed friends, and his slickness made him a little more suspect than the rest of the lot. And Valerie…Valerie was a plainly pretty woman who just moved from Dublin to rent a house in the country, and the men took it upon themselves to put on airs and impress her with their ales and anecdotes.

Last night, profanity and fantastical ghost stories flowed freely, and as the evening went on, the men’s tales grew more exaggerated…and scary. Ireland is renowned for its ghost tales and folklore, and these men, like any respectable Irishmen, knew how to tell a story (the alcohol undoubtedly encouraged and inspired their dramatics). With their stories about fairies, ghosts, and unexplainable happenings, they each tried to top each other's tales, entertaining and frightening each other. I questioned their superstitions and honesty, not knowing what to believe. But it was quiet, unassuming Valerie, whose story about why she really left Dublin--a true ghost story--ended the unsettling evening and allowed the men to let their guard down.

Last night, I saw a play called The Weir at South Coast Repertory, and felt like I was in a pub experiencing an evening with real people. Never once did I not feel like I was really there with them, in the dark Irish countryside. And never did I fully believe any of their drunken ghost stories…until the end of the play.

[Daniel Reichert, Richard Doyle, Tony Ward, Kirsten Potter, and James Lancaster 

in The Weir by Conor McPherson. Photo by Henry DiRocco/SCR]

The Weir runs through April 3rd. Get your tickets here, if you dare...

-Guest blogger and OCG writer Lisa Birle