a Gala Guest with a SERIOUS Wardrobe Malfunction, or the only way to keep me from the foie

A True San Francisco Event: Diverse and Delicious &

Community Service with a World-Class Twist

What a night! I am so often part of incredible culinary events and I will never become jaded. Nope. I am enthusiasm personified and that I will remain to the end. But, I did have a bit of a ...situation last night. Let me explain. I was thrilled to be at the Star Chefs and Vintners Gala, a spectacular event supporting Meals on Wheels. I was a guest ( woo, hoo!) as co-sponsors with Viking Range and my beloved company, Standards of Excellence Appliances. I was so excited to actually get dressed up and look like a girl for once and not be working the event. It was a shock to my system. Red satin pumps replaced my chef clogs, a tiny hand bag stood in for my knife kit, a dress covered my body in lieu of a chef coat... a bit out of character, but was ready to adjust.

http://www.mowsf.org/gala/index.html

When I mention a wardrobe malfunction and a gala party, many ideas may come to mind. Domaine Chandon sparking wine was offered at the door, I was surrounded by chefs and beautiful people, look, there's Chef Nancy Oakes with Bruce Aidells, check out Michael Chiarello, there goes Annie Somerville! The world was my oyster...and then... I went to the rest room to adjust my dress and suddenly, my zipper got stuck. Now, a BIG hazard of this job is the eating part and yes, it really is catching up to me. But this was honestly, just a really, really wimpy zipper. What to do?! I jumped into a stall and tried in vain to fix it, it got worse. After 15 minutes, I was left with a dress unzipped on the side from my mid-hip to my under-arm. Seriously. Now what could I do? I did my best to hold my dress together (luckily it had a belt) and find Lisa, who was wondering what had happened to me...

After a bit of deliberation, we promptly sat at our dinner table and, with my left arm pushing against my wardrobe malfunction, we proceeded to enjoy a great dinner. I could not roam the appetizer room, but I will be darned if I am going to miss dinner! Our table was amazing, straight out of central casting: a long time married male couple, a hetero- couple, a blond uber-glammed up 6 foot tall transgender male in a fabulous chartreuse gown and her distinguished date and a much older, very enhanced woman with a much younger European male date. Fabulous, this town. My jaw dropped as the auctioneer raised money by the bucketful, $20,000, $30,000 time and again.

How about "Dinner for Eight at RN74 with Rare Wines" with famous Sommelier Rajat Parr and his nationally recognized RN74 Chefs (James Beard Best New Restaurant nominees) with a magnum of Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945 valued at $13,000! They sold it twice at $15,000 each, raising 30 G's!

Now how about this deal: We have Rajat Parr and Chef Keven Wilson for a full appetizer and wine tasting experience THIS WEDNESDAY at the fantastic Fresh Starts Cooking School for ONLY $74 a person ( that is a $1801 savings! Do the math...) I am so thrilled to be hosting this event at 1385 N. Hamilton Parkway in Novato, CA from 6:30- 9. Dine on RN74 plates of scallops, duck confit and more paired with amazing wine and a sommelier with world class status and a heart of gold. They are donating the event, all proceeds will support Homeward Bound of Marin's Homeless Programs. http://www.cookingschoolsofamerica.com/freshstartscookingschool/index.php?flag_menu_index=reservation_php#126

Alas, here lies my poor dress with a split zipper from the toe of one shoe to the toe of the other. Was that enough to stop me, heck no. Next time, though, I will bring a chef coat, just in case.