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A celebration
of the great flavors of France heralded the 19th
Annual Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation’s (JCCF) “TASTE
FOR A CURE,” Friday, April 25, 2014 at the
Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Each year, exceptional wines from a
designated area are paired with regional cuisine prepared by
award-winning chefs to create what has been called “among
the finest gourmet events of the year!” and consistently
named in Bizbash Magazine’s “Southern California’s Top 100
Events” as well as a Top 10 ranking in “Food, Wine and
Hospitality.”
The evening honored
Sony Pictures Television President Steve Mosko with the
Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award, named in memory of JCCF
supporter Gil Nickel, proprietor of Napa Valley’s Far Niente,
Nickel & Nickel and Dolce wineries, who lost a courageous
battle against melanoma in 2003. Joe Cohen, Jon Holman,
Larry Maguire, Gary Newman, Jay Sures and Dana Walden were
Dinner Co-Chairs. More than $700,000 was raised for cancer
research.
“Glee” star Lea
Michele welcomed the more than 450 guests who had earlier
savored the very best of French wines and delicacies.
Fourteen of France’s most prestigious wineries shared their
premiere vintages at the pre-show gourmet food and wine
tasting reception. Six regions of France: Loire Valley,
Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Provence and Champagne were
featured, showcasing vintages including: Château
Beaulieu, Château de la Clapière, Château Paveil de Luze,
Château Plince, Château Puynormond, Château Suduiraut,
Domaine de Cristia, Domaine Drouhin Vaudon, Domaine du Vieux
Lazaret, Domaine Georges Brunet, Domaine Reverdy-Ducroux,
Jean-Claude Boisset, Joseph Drouhin and Lanson
Champagne. Award-winning Napa Valley wineries and
long-time event supporters Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel,
Dolce and EnRoute served as honorary wine
partners.
Beverly Wilshire
Hotel’s distinguished Executive Chef Gilles Arzur, a native
of Brittany, led the list of award-winning chefs bringing
their finely honed talents to the evening’s gastronomic
portion, featuring a palate of gourmet edibles from the
delicate to the hearty. Highlights included: Royale
Sea-Bream and Seafood Provencale; Artichoke and Celeriac
Tartlets, Seared Duck Breast and Hazelnut Vinaigrette;
Mussel Beignets in a spicy Lemon Sauce and St. Emillion
Braised Eel Ragut with Spring Vegetables. Among those
offering their signature selections in addition to Arzur
were: Christian Andre Monchatre, Executive Chef, The
Pacific Union Club, San Francisco; Pascal Frapech, Executive
Chef and owner/founder of PF Culinary Services and Vittorio
Lucariello, Executive Sous Chef, Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Adding to the
entertainment portion of the evening, “How I Met Your
Mother’s” Alyson Hannigan introduced actor/comedian Tom Papa
whose stand-up routine was greeted with laughs and
applause. A show-stopper was “Glee’s” Darren Criss who
belted out “Crazy Love” and “Let It Be.” Criss then asked
the audience if someone would donate to the cause to hear
his “Glee” co-star Lea Michele perform a song with him.
Co-Chair Dana Walden bid $5,000 to hear Darren and Lea sing
a heartfelt rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
Dinner Co-Chair, UTA
Managing Director and Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation
Vice-Chair Jay Sures poignantly related the story of his own
father’s valiant battle against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, one he
lost eight years ago. Sures praised the work of the doctors
and staff at UCLA for the support and care shown to his
father. He went on to recognize Judith C. Gasson, Ph.D.,
Director, UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center,
lauding her “as a visionary leader who has overseen an
all-star team of doctors, researchers and staff for nearly
20 years. These individuals devote their lives to turning
the tide against cancer and they are seeing results.”
“Community” co-star
Joel McHale did the honors, introducing the
man-of-the-evening, Sony Pictures Television President,
Steve Mosko, recipient of the 2014 Gil Nickel Humanitarian
Award. The late Gil Nickel’s wife Beth and their nephew
Erik Nickel joined in the applause welcoming Mosko to the
stage. In accepting his award, Mosko detailed the
devastating role that cancer had wrought in his own family.
A highlight of the
evening was the always eagerly awaited live auction overseen
by Jeff Tanenbaum. The one-of-a-kind lots drawing fierce
bidding included: a “walk on” role in ABC-TV’s “The
Goldbergs;” a “Wines of France Instant Cellar,” featuring a
collection of 96 bottles of the fine French wines featured
at the night’s event; “The Robb Report ‘Car of the Year’
Exclusive Judging Experience,” affording the winning bidder
the opportunity to help select the 2015 Car of the Year
while enjoying a two-night stay at Meadowood Napa Valley
and a private tour and tasting at Far Niente and Nickel &
Nickel wineries and, most eagerly anticipated… a
“Wine-Lover’s French Travel Package to Paris, Champagne and
Burgundy” featuring luxurious stays in each of the three
locales along with exclusive visits to Lanson, Boisset, Four
Seasons George V Paris, a host of unique wineries and “Van
Cleef & Arpels VIP Parisian Experience” including visits to
the L’Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels and a private tour of Les
Atelier Van Cleef & Arpels at their flagship Place Vendôme
boutique.
Additional auction
items are available online, including So You Think You
Can Dance tickets, American Idol XIII Finale and
After Party Passes, and a visit to the set of
The Americans. Visit
www.tasteforcure.com
for complete details and
bidding information.
About the UCLA
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Founded in 1945, the
JCCF is the single most important vehicle for raising funds
for cancer research at UCLA. UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive
Cancer Center (JCCC) is ranked among the nation’s top 12
cancer centers by U.S. News &World Report. The JCCC’s
dedicated researchers are recognized as international
leaders in the discovery of new and better ways to prevent,
detect and treat cancer.
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