Drinking for a (Very Good) Cause

L-R: Jonathan Roberts (The Pig Wizard), Mary Font (Mrs. Delish), Luciano Pellegrini (Valentino). Photo courtesy of Interface Visual

Nothing like drinking for a cause, I always say.

I can’t believe I said that! But seriously, there are charity events and there are Charity Events.

Clambake for a Cure is definitely the latter.

I may have been lured by the possibility of seeing celebs (though I wouldn’t recognize a PGA Pro if bopped on the head with a putter), but I did meet a ballerina-turned-yogini, a documentary filmmaker, marketing mavens Leslie McClure and Wendy Brickman, “Chef Whisperer” Dorothy Maras-Ildiz, and Susan Curtis of Jocelyn Lonen Winery, the event founder.

Curtis, who lost her husband to a brain tumor in 2004, has transmuted some of her grief into the Golf & Grapes Foundation and this lovely annual event, which raises money for research.

The setting: Gilbert’s on Fisherman’s Wharf, overlooking the bay, the boats, and twinkling city lights. Celebrity chefs showed off their stuff, and numerous wineries poured their special vintages.

Photo Courtesy of Interface Visual

While the intrepid Wayne Capili of Interface Visual snapped photos, I joined newfound friends on the deck, where—in between awesome appetizers—we tried to decide which we preferred: Scheid’s sparkling “Isabelle” (a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes) or Gruet’s Extra Dry Brut (aromatic notes of peach and marzipan, with a hint of honeysuckle).

We tried one, and then we tried the other. Both were fabulous. And then we had to try the first one again, to compare it with the second. And then we had to… well, needless to say, we never did get around to sampling the many other fine wines represented.

We capped off the evening with bonbons and delectable mini-chocolate cupcakes with Bailey’s Irish Cream frosting (courtesy of Mrs. Delish), washed down with—well, what else?—more champagne.

Was it the Scheid or the Gruet? Not exactly sure… but I will happily return next year to find out.