On Saturday, February 6, Vertical Wine Bistro is teaming up with local bloggers Matt Robold (RumDood), Matthew Kang (Mattatouille), and Fiona Chandra (GourmetPigs) to host a special charity event benefiting the victims of the devastating Haiti earthquake.

“Haitian Libations” will take place in the restaurant’s bar and lounge from 10pm to close. 50% of all wine, cocktail, and food profits will benefit Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ). Established in early 2009, APJ is a fundraising effort that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty and enfranchisement in communities around the world.

For the fundraiser, the three bloggers have prepared a special cocktail menu: the Vieux Carré, the Aviation, and RumDood’s own Port-Au-Prince (check out Matt’s blog for the recipe). The best part? All three bloggers will be mixing these drinks behind the bar!

Vertical Wine Bistro’s donation will help support a special relief project spearheaded by APJ board members Paul Haggis (director of the Oscar-winning “Crash”) and actress Maria Bello. The pair recently arrived in Haiti, personally delivering much-needed funds and supplies. For the latest on their efforts, read Maria’s series of blog posts at The Huffington Post, beginning with her January 21st entry, “On the Ground in Port-au-Prince.” For over a year, APJ has worked closely with Father Rick Frechette of St. Damien Hospital in Port-au-Prince, the only free pediatric hospital in the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation. St. Damien, which itself sustained substantial damage in the quake, has been sharing medical supplies with other relief workers and facilities in need, while also providing aid to countless victims as one of the area’s few semi-functioning medical facilities.

Haitian Libations
A Benefit for Haiti
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
10pm-2am

Vertical Wine Bistro
70 N. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 795-3999

www.verticalwinebistro.com
Facebook: verticalfanpage
Twitter: verticalbistro

Image and logo: Vertical Wine Bistro

Honorary Chairs George and Ann Lopez.

National Kidney Foundation spokesman George Lopez, a kidney disease survivor, and his wife and kidney donor Ann Lopez, will host the afternoon’s festivities as Honorary Chairs. Joining the Lopezes will be a star-studded “green carpet” including such celebrities as Andy Garcia, Jennie Garth, Peter Facinelli, Amy Garcia, Paul Stanley, Deana Carter, Mark Rolston, Brook Burns and Jeff Davis.

Chefs of Honor Neal Fraser (Grace, BLD) and Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (Border Grill, Ciudad) head an impressive lineup of top Los Angeles chefs. The Chefs of Honor will present awards to their fellow participating chefs to spotlight the use of local, organic and sustainable ingredients. (See below for a full list of participating chefs, wines, and spirits.) Hostess Chef Candice Kumai, The Stiletto Chef of TLC’s “Cook Yourself Thin,” will serve as emcee for the event and auction.

Featured items for this year’s live auction include a Maurice Lacroix Limited Edition 999 Watch, a private dinner party courtesy of Neal Fraser paired with wine from Frank Family Vineyards, a Border Grill Truck Party for 25, a La Loggia party for 25, two round-trip business class tickets on American Airlines to one of their European destinations, and a five-night stay at Aurelio-Lech, a new luxury ski lodge in Austria. The silent auction will include sports memorabilia, travel packages to international destinations, and numerous wine and spirits packages.

23rd Annual Great Chefs of Los Angeles
Sunday, November 8, 2009
12pm-3:30pm
$150 per person, proceeds benefit the National Kidney Foundation

CBS Studio Center
4024 Radford Dr.
Studio City, CA 91604

For more information, please visit www.kidneysocal.org

Featured chefs include:

• Adam Horton, Saddlepeak Lodge
• Akasha Richmond, Akasha
• Andrea Cavaliere, Cecconi’s
• Benjamin Ford, Ford’s Filling Station
• Bob Lynn, La Grande Orange
• Brain Moyers, BLT Steak
• Calogero Drago, Celestino Ristorante & Panzanella
• Celestino Drago, Drago Restaurant, Enoteca Drago, Il Pastaio, Drago Centro
• Chris Moran, Events D’Elegance
• David Linville, Charlie’s Malibu
• Frank Leon, LaLoggia Ristorante & Bokado
• Keven Alan Lee, EAST Restaurant & Lounge
• Giacomino Drago, Il Pastaio
• Govind Armstrong, 8 oz.
• Jason Johnston, Dakota
• Jesse Perez, Fuego at Hotel Maya
• Jimmy Shaw, Loteria Grill
• Joachim Weritz, Moonshadows
• Jonathan Burrows, Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs
• Jorge Chicas, The Bazaar – SLS Hotel
• Josie Le Balch, Josie Restaurant
• Margarito Cid, Harry’s Oklahoma Style Smokehouse BBQ
• Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger, Border Grill & Ciudad Restaurants
• Michael Fiorelli, mar’sel
• Neal Fraser, Grace & BLD
• Paolo Sicuro, Via Alloro
• Roberto Maggioni, Lago
• Sam Marvin & Christopher Goossen, Bottega Louie Restaurant & Gourmet Market
• Simon Dolinky, BLVD 16 at Hotel Palomar
• Steven Fretz, XIV
• Tanino Drago, Tanino Ristorante & Panzanella Ristorante
• Yoji Tajima, SHU – Sushi House Unico

Wines:

• Barone Fine Winery
• Buttonwood Farm Winery
• Crossings, New Zealand
• Duckhorn Wine Company
• Frank Family Vineyards
• FIFTYROW
• Golden State Wine Co.
• Grgich Hills Estate
• Jaffe Estate Wine
• Jack Wines
• Jocelyn Lonen Winery
• Kunde Estate Winery
• L’Aventure Winery
• Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
• Loring Wine Co.
• Quinta do Castro
• Regal Wine Co.
• Sterling Organics
• Trefethen Family Vineyards
• Vega Sicilia
• Villa Franttina

Champagnes:

• Remy Cointreau USA
• Charles Heidsieck
• Piper-Hiedsieck

Spirits:

• VeeV Açai Spirit
• Tequila Ocho
• RIGHT Gin

944 Get Hip Get Green Lounge
944 and Get Hip Get Green, an eco-conscious leader in producing stylish reusable bags, totes and water bottles, sponsor the GCLA “944 Get Hip Get Green” Lounge, outfitted with environmentally friendly lounge furniture provided by Girari Sustainable Furnishing. VeeV Açai Spirit, a leading distiller in promoting social responsibility in the beverage industry, will pour cocktails at the “Go Green Go Organic” Spirits Bar. Guests will use biodegradable utensils by Sysco’s Eco Company line.

Guests will receive Get Hip Get Green’s reusable gift totes stuffed with $250 worth of goodies from leading green and eco-friendly companies, including LaRocca Skincare, Healing Skin, Utter Cream, Eco-Panda, Herbal Water, Nelson J Salon, Alterna, OPI, Explorer’s Bounty, Celtic Sea Salt, Edward & Sons Trading Co., Pop Chips, Robert’s American Gourmet and Little Laura’s Sweets, among many others. Signed copies of Skinny Bastard, the latest book by Skinny Bitch authors Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman, will also be included in the gift bags.

This Wednesday, September 16, Bottega Louie and TRU Organic Vodka invite you to Cocktails for a Cause, an event to support Los Angeles firefighters. TRU is providing tastings of the Red Engine cocktail, made with TRU Organic Vodka, CRISM Organic Hibiscus Liqueur, and lemon. Bottega Louie and TRU will donate $1.00 for every Red Engine cocktail served. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, which offers programs to provide assistance to firefighters and their families. These programs include the Fire Medical Plan, Relief Fund, Life & Accident Fund, and the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. For more information, or to make a donation online, please visit the LAFRA website.

Cocktails for a Cause
Wednesday, Sep. 16, 2009
5:30-7:30pm
Red Engine cocktail tasting provided by TRU Organic Vodka

Bottega Louie
700 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 802-1470
www.bottegalouie.com

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When it comes to food and drink writing in Los Angeles, Jonathan Gold is “the Man” and has the Pulitzer Prize to prove it. On October 10, he’s hosting Jonathan Gold’s Union Station Cocktail Party, a fundraiser for Zócalo Public Square, a non-profit organization that builds community by broadening access to civic discourse. According to Zócalo, this special event “will explore L.A.’s new cocktail moment with food and drink tastings and discussion.”

Tickets cost $300 per person, or $500 per couple. If the hit to your wallet seems a bit much, consider the worthy cause, the high-powered kitchen and bar talent, and Union Station’s beautiful Art Deco setting.

Jonathan Gold’s Union Station Cocktail Party
Saturday, October 10, 2009
7:00pm
Official Event Website

Union Station
Grand Ticket Concourse
800 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets: $300/guest, $500/couple

Featuring:

• Jonathan Gold (LA Weekly)
• Eric Alperin (The Varnish)
• Michael Cimarusti (Providence)

Tastings by: Church & State, Comme Ca, CUT, Mozza, Palate, Providence, Rivera

Custom paired cocktails by: Cedd Moses (213 Downtown)

Please visit the Zócalo website for more information.