More than 500 guests joined at a long, long, communal table in the middle of a remote Carneros vineyards on Nov. 21, to celebrate the strength and resilience of California’s wine country community and to raise funds for people whose homes and businesses were impacted by the October Wine Country Fires.
All Photos: Robin Nichols/Visit California
And all the while, they nibbled fine food and sipped fine wines, catered by Food Network chef Tyler Florence and nearly 20 other California All-Star chefs plus several wineries.
Organized in less than two weeks by Visit California, Food Network and Outstanding in the Field, The Grateful Table was a nearly impossible accomplishment, thanks to the talented chefs who dropped everything to contribute. Chefs included:
Chris Cosentino, Cockscomb
Duskie Estes and John Stewart, Zazu Kitchen and Farm
Josh Even, Tosca Café
Tony Ferrari, Hillside Supper Club
Jason Fox, Commonwealth
Ken Frank, La Toque
Tanya Holland, Brown Sugar Kitchen
Mark and Terri Stark, Stark Reality Restaurants
Dustin Valette, Valette
Ari Weiswasser, Glen Ellen Star
Travis Westrope, Stagg’s Leap
Pure Luxury Transportation was extremely proud to provide the dozens of shuttles bringing the hundreds of guests from pick-up points in Sonoma and Napa. The dinner location was a “secret” spot set in an unamed vineyard straddling the Napa/Sonoma County line.
Guests were greeted by sparkling and white wines, and chicken fried steak sliders plus clam chowder and fall squash soup.
Then they feasted on fried Brussels sprouts with chile, almonds and aioli; leafy greens with persimmon, pomegranate, walnuts and sherry vinaigrette; and butternut squash risotto with brown butter braised leeks, parmesan, lemon and roasted delicata squash. Entrees included Sonoma turkey with braised carrots, coriander carrot top pesto and preserved citrus butter; and Superior Farms lamb with roasted cauliflower, cauliflower puree, raisin-caper salsa verde and pasilla de Oaxaca oil.
Crowning touches were Acme pain epi bread and dessert of sticky fig cake, Franjelico toffee sauce, candied kumquat and crème chantilly served in a jar.
All ticket sales benefitted the Mendocino County Disaster Fund, Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund, Sonoma County Resilience Fund and California Restaurant Association Foundation.
For more information on how to support those impacted by the Wine Country fires and to make a donation in support of those affected, visitwww.visitcalifornia.com/support-wine-country.
