On an incredibly hot night in Burbank, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation hosted their 19th Annual “Culinary Evening with the California Winemakers” on the Main Street backlot at Warner Bros. Studios. With the combined clout of 45 internationally
recognized chefs and 67 extraordinary California wineries, the event raised a record $1,603,877 to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s research and care programs. The setting on the backlot was amazing, courtesy of Warner Bros. Special Events Director Hillary Harris, who faced the challenge of transforming the famous lot’s Midwest Street, affectionately referred to as “anywhere in the good old USA,” and the connected French Street into a wine and food lover’s dream destination. She succeeded beautifully, creating a charming backdrop for the chefs, wineries, and over 700 auction items to be showcased, as guests gleefully wandered from booth to booth, sampling tasty bites from restaurants including Drago

Ristorante (chef/owner Celestino Drago was one of the presenting sponsors), Whist at the Viceroy, Bouchon, Comme Ca, Melisse, and an impressive array of other top eateries. The top-shelf wine being poured made it hard to choose what to sample, from the perfect-for-the-heat Chimney Rock Elevage Blanc 2006, a crisply cool quaff of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris, to the always-wonderful

Frank Family and Grigch Hills Chardonnays. Many ignored the over 100-degree heat and went for reds being poured by Plumpjack, Pride Mountain, Ridge, and Patz & Hall. After the huge silent auction concluded, the live auction caused a riot, as items like a 3-Liter bottle of Chateau d’Yquem Sauterne went for $10,000, and a private BOND estate dinner at Drago hosted by Dustin Hoffman brought $30,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Seems no matter how overheated Angelenos get, they are always cool when it comes to giving to good causes.

Ristorante (chef/owner Celestino Drago was one of the presenting sponsors), Whist at the Viceroy, Bouchon, Comme Ca, Melisse, and an impressive array of other top eateries. The top-shelf wine being poured made it hard to choose what to sample, from the perfect-for-the-heat Chimney Rock Elevage Blanc 2006, a crisply cool quaff of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris, to the always-wonderful Frank Family and Grigch Hills Chardonnays. Many ignored the over 100-degree heat and went for reds being poured by Plumpjack, Pride Mountain, Ridge, and Patz & Hall. After the huge silent auction concluded, the live auction caused a riot, as items like a 3-Liter bottle of Chateau d’Yquem Sauterne went for $10,000, and a private BOND estate dinner at Drago hosted by Dustin Hoffman brought $30,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Seems no matter how overheated Angelenos get, they are always cool when it comes to giving to good causes.