Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

TALENT OF FIVE CHEFS ON THE PLATE FOR TASTE OF THE TOWN CONNOISSEURS' GALA DINNER

Chef Matt Johnson, Santa Ynez Ranch, Chef David Rosner, The Monarch Montecito, Chef Steven Giles, Sage & Onion

Chef David Cecchini, Cecco Restaurante, Chef Patrick Clark, Hilton Santa Barbara Resort

The 37^th Taste of the Town Connoisseur’s Circle Gala Dinner & Auction Friday, September 7 at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort will feature the culinary talents of five renowned area chefs including Chef Matt Johnson, San Ysidro Ranch, Chef David Rosner, Monarch at the Montecito Inn, Chef Steven Giles, formerly of Sage & Onion and Le Garoche London, Chef David Cecchini, Cecco Ristorante and guest chef Patrick Clark, Executive Sous Chef, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The gourmet delight dinner will be served in the hotel Rotunda, and will be paired with wines from Au Bon Climat, Lead Honorary Vintner.

Tina Takaya and Richard Yates, owners of Opal Restaurant & Bar, are once again honorary co-chairs for this delicious charitable event and Jim Clenenden of Au Bon Climat wines is this years Lead Honorary Vintner. 2018 youth honoree is Shannon Morehouse, and honoree artist Chris Potter's painting will be auctioned at the Gala.

On Sunday, September 9 the Riviera Park overlooking the city will be the site of the Taste of the Town featuring the finest restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries and spirits providers, with a silent auction, photo booth and live jazz by David Tovar Trio.

Confirmed food tastes include Ca'Dario, Chefs on a Mission, Country Catering, Finch & Fork, Finney's Crafthouse, Flightline, Green Table, High on the Hog Catering, Lilac Patisserie, Michael's Catering, Mizza Artisan Pizza, opal Restaurant & Bar, Pascucci's, Santa Barbara Yacht Club, SBCC Culinary, The Little Door, The Little Kitchen, The Nook, The Nugget Goleta, The Palace Grill, The Secret Ingredient and Via Maestra 42. Confirmed beverage tastes include Alexander & Wayne, Alma Rosa, Arthur Earl, Artiste, Au Bon Climat, Brander, Brewer-Clifton, Cutler's Artisan Spirits, Demetria Estates, DV8 Cellars, Gainey, Giessinger, Grassini, Islands Brewing Co., Jaffurs, Ken Brown Wines, Kessler-Haak, Margerum Wine Company, Melville, Presqu'ile, Qupe, Refugio Ranch, Roblar, Temperance Cellars and Whitcraft Winery.

Arthritis Foundation Central Coast Local leadership Board members for 2018 include Pam Tanase, Amy Leong MBA, Karen Anderson, R.N., Miriam Parsa, MD, Laura Kath, Deborah Deneaulf, L. Mae Chandler, Thomas Ferro, MD, William Gallivan, Jr. MD, Susan Lemon, DO, Kristi Jena, C.J.Ward, Lynn Yekiazarian, Douglas Tucker.

Taste of the Town Santa Barbara is pleased to acknowledge its confirmed sponsors, including official Automotive Partner BMW Santa Barbara, along with HUB International (wine glass sponsor), Terry Ryken COMPASS, American Riviera Bank, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation, Senior Planning Services, Central Coast Home Health and Hospice, Diana MacFarlane/Caliber Home Loans, Amye Leong and Bob Price, Jeffery Baldwin and Michal Wiesbrock, the Santa Barbara Independent, KEYT News Channel 3, Opal Restaurant and Bar, the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, The Berry Man Inc., Bluestar Parking, You’re The Star, AA Expressive, Jill & Co. Events and Ana’s Balloon Creations, and more.

All proceeds from these events support Arthritis Foundation services and programs. For detailed information and tickets please visit: www.arthritis.org/tasteofthetownsb.

At 10:00 this morning a huge crowd of volunteers and supporters were greeted by Executive Director Anthony Carroccio and COO Andrea, where participants of the Organic Soup Kitchen 5K Walk Strong Festival gathered at Ledbetter Beach in Santa Barbara to prepare for the morning walk in support of an organization that has provided healthy organic soups to cancer patients throughout the Santa Barbara and surrounding areas for the past ten years. 100% of the proceeds from the 5K Walk goes to cancer recovery patients.

A bevy of enthusiastic sponsors had tents and were passing out samples and chatting with attendees, while an organic chili tent and Rincon Brewery tent were being set up to provide lunch and beer following the walk. Goodie bags provided by Mrs. Bragg were filled with healthy gifts, and Anthony was making sure everything was happening on schedule.

I asked Anthony Carroccio what he felt was special about this walk and he said “you can feel something special about this from the people. They all have this place inside that moves them to show up and share their heart for someone they love – this will be a very special day.” It was fun to meet Maraley Becker, Physical Fitness Expert from Mac Grant Fitness, who lead a workout that got the crowd ready to go. The FAB DJ Fabrice Allain kept the vibe in high gear and people were dancing to the beat.

It was very touching to share the morning with this caring group of Santa Barbara people, and see how happy they were to be supporting the Organic Soup Kitchen. Many of us have been recipients of their gracious soup delivery, or have family members and friends the Organic Soup Kitchen have included in their soup deliveries to get them on the road to recovery. Congratulations and love to Anthony, Andrea, the Organic Soup Kitchen Board, event sponsors, and all the great volunteers. What a beautiful event for a vitally important cause. For information or to make a donation visit: www.organicsoupkitchen.org.

Watch the walkers warming up with Maraley Becker of Mac Grant Fitness before Organic Soup Kitchen 5K Walk 2018.