The 9th Annual LUCKYRICE Feast Tour "Breaking Bao" kicked off in LA

Photos at Vibiana by Karen Ostlund  #Luckyrice18  #EatDrinkGetLucky

Entrance table at Vibiana July 26 featuring LUCKYRICE dishes served

 The 9th Annual LUCKYRICE™ FEAST “Breaking Bao" took place Sunday July 26th at Vibiana Cathedral in Los Angeles, celebrating Inter-generational Cuisine Flavors from : Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesia, Japanese, Korean, Malaysia, Taiwanese, Thai and Vietnamese.

 #LUCKYRICE18 Tour:
Oct. 4 Otakuisine Dinner in San Fransisco
Oct.11  Otakuisine Dinner in Houston
Oct. 18  Otakuisine Dinner in Miami
Nov. 16-18 Forbidden Rice in New York
 The evening’s host was world-renowned chef Susur Lee, who has paved the future of global Asian culture. It’s a family affair in the Bent-Lee kitchen with his sons Levi, Kai and Jet.
"This year, we're highlighting generations of family meals, special birthdays, holidays and sick days that taught our creative trust of Angeleno Asian cuisine, about making Asian food. Bringing young and old together, LUCKYRICE showcases the secret family heirloom dishes of our lucky food stars” said Chef Susur Lee.

Hong Kong-born Toronto-based Susur Lee (center Chef) is best known in US, as the Chef with the highest score in Top Chef Masters history (photo from BravoTV in June 9, 2010) and made it all the way to the Season 2 finals, where he tied with Rick Moonen for second place a half point behind Marcus Samuelsson.
Susur became a worldwide leader in Asian fusion cuisine, because of blending traditional Chinese dishes with classical French techniques. 

Danielle Chang, author of LUCKYRICE cookbook

Danielle Chang is the founder of the LUCKYRICE Festival, the nationwide traveling showcase of Asian food culture in the U.S. For LUCKY CHOW, she has put together both iconic and rising star chefs to showcase  in Asian culinary culture today. She was born in Taipei,where she learned from an early age that food + family = a recipe for happiness. Danielle learned how to make zongzi from her 98 year old Shanghai grandmother, grew up eating chicken feet in Houston when Asian food were a novelty, which later inspired her to write the debut cookbook LUCKYRICE.  http://luckyrice.com/luckychow-tv/season-1/



ON THE TASTING MENU:

BONE KETTLE:, Chef Erwin Tjahyadi, Steak Tartare w/ Garlic Krupuk: St Helen's Ranch Hanger Steak with chili vinaigrette, lemongrass, mint, basil, fried garlic krupuk

PHORAGE: Chef Perry Cheung, Pork Wonton with Truffle Sauce

MAMA MUSUBI : Chef Tomoko Imade Dyen,
O-chazuke: Small rice balls topped with beef (or fish) or vegetables

TATANG: Chef Jamby Roi
"Lon-Ga-Nisa" Meatball: Pork and shrimp served with Banana BBQ Sauce and Crispy Garlic

                                     

STAY LUCKY Chef Vinh Ngyuen, Suanla Chaoshou with pork and shrimp (Sichuan Hot & Sour Wonton)

HIP HOT: Chef Tiantian, Solo Hot Pot: Beef ball, fish, tofu, broccoli and glass noodles

CHINESE LAUNDRY FOOD TRUCK, Chef Leo Lamprides
Chinese Seafood Risotto: Abrorio rice congee, whipped seafood and tofu cream mousse, house-seasoned fish crumble ginger and herbs

LUCKYRICE featuring @conscious_cooking, Culinary Content Creator Christine Wong, Vegan Pekingbello Bites

KIKORI Japanese Whiskey

THE DRINK MENU: Kirin Ichiban, Kikori Whiskey, Suntory Whisky Toki, Mutual Trading - Sake & Shochu, San Pellegrino, Perrier, Bruce Cost Ginger Ale and Coffee Hall.
www.Luckyrice.com

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HONORED CHEF MING TSAI AT CALIFORNIA SPIRIT 33 GARDEN PARTY

Photos by Karen Ostlund for Redcarpetdrive            #CalSpirit

Chef Ming Tsai accepts 2018 Impact Award

 Celebrated chef and TV personality Tsai was honored last Sunday July 15th by the American Cancer Society, and accepted the 2018 Impact Award at the American Cancer Society’s California Spirit 33 Gourmet Garden Party for his work with Family Reach, an organization that provides financial assistance for under-served families facing cancer.                       
The garden party, took place on the Sony Studio's lot and was co-sponsored by media partners, KTLA-TV; Variety; Angeleno; The Hollywood Reporter; KJZZ Radio, and included  25 food and beverage stations, offering everything from Wolfgang Puck’s grilled ribeye cap, oysters by Prawn Coastal, seared albacore by The Bel-Air, paella del Mar by Fig & Olive to sweet cream ice cream by McConnell’s.

Host Chef Javier Plascencia

Honorary co-chairs Joy and Roger Davis w/Sherry Lansing (in red/black)

Sherry Lansing  (STOP CANCER, Stand Up 2 Cancer) served as honorary co-chair along with Phil Rosenthal (15-time Emmy Award-winning “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Spanglish,” “I’ll have What Phil’s Having; Netflix Season 2 of Somebody Feed Phil). Sherry Lansing is also known as former Chairman and CEO of Paramount Studios donated a private cocktail reception and film screening at her home for 12 guests to the live auction, which went for $6000.

Live auction with Andrew Firestone

The event was hosted by Chef Javier Plascencia, author and TV personality for cuisine of Baja California and Andrew Firestone presided over the live auction.                   

Wolfgang Puck: Grilled ribeye cap, yukon gold potatoes, peppers

Restaurants featured:*71 Above, Barbara Jean LA, The Bel-Air, BOA Steakhouse, Fig & Olive, Frida Mexican Cuisine, Guerilla Tacos, Kato, Life Energy Food,  Maple Block Meat Co, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Panini Kabob Grill,  Prawn Coastal, Takami Sushi & Robata, Sweet Lady Jane, The Wallace, Wolfgang Puck Catering, and Wood & Vine.                          

Organic white rum Drake's

Featured purveyors by: Ammunition Wine, Codigo 1530 Tequila, Danone Waters of America, Drake’s Organic Vodka & Rum, Golden Road Brewing, Hilltop Coffee, Lillet, Kikori Whiskey, Moraga Bel Air, Malibu Vineyards, and The Ojai Vineyard.

Chef Ming Tsa

The Band from TV concluded California Spirit 33 auction: Adrian Pasdar, Greg Grunberg and Scott Grimes

       

Fig & Olive restaurant, Paella del mar

Concern Foundation Celebrated 50 Years of Research at 44th Annual Block Party

Photos by Karen Ostlund      #ConcernBlockParty  #ConcernFoundation  # ConcernNow

Incredible HULK at Concern Foundation 44th Annual Block Party

Last Saturday, July 14th, nearly 4,000 supporters filled the streets of the New York backlot at Paramount Pictures Studios when the Concern Foundation celebrated 50 Years of Super Heroes: Researchers, Donors and Volunteers.
2018 marked Concern’s 50th year and Concern has since awarded over $60 million dollars in salary support to over 750 cancer researchers in total.

The event was led by event chair Lexy Carroll and a team of volunteers and designed once again by (center) John Ferdenzi of Town and Country Event Rentals, who received the Spirit of Concern Award 2018 by (right) Concern President Derek Alpert and Lisi Teller, Executive Chair Concern  Foundation.

Concern Foundation 44th Annual Block Party on the back lot of Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood  brought in $1.8 million, which 90-95% of net proceeds went directly to research.

Concern Foundation honored members of the community that have provided a significant change towards the fight against cancer. This year, the foundation honored Dr. Jay & Kris Calvert (photo above) and family as this year’s “Cancer Crusaders” for their participation in helping to conquer cancer through research.
Dr. Jay Calvert, also known as a scientist has been named one of Los Angeles Magazine's “Super Doctors” in 2014, 2015, and 2016.  He has appeared on hit television programs including CBS’s “The Doctors” and OWN’s “Dr. Phil”.  Alongside his wife Kris, Jay has openly shared their personal experience with cancer; having had prostate cancer affect the lives of both their fathers.
The Calvert’s 10 year old son Ace was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 4 and while today he has beaten his cancer, ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) can always return and he is never truly cured.  This is a major reason he and his family feels so strongly about raising money to help find a permanent cure.
“It’s truly an honor for Concern Foundation to recognize the Calvert family as this year’s Cancer Crusader honorees for their commitment to helping provide salary support for cancer researchers and for sharing their personal story.” said Derek Alpert, Concern’s President.

Performances behind bar at 44th Annual Concern block party

Tom Nolan Band played well-known tunes all night

Casino Games behind main stage at 44th Annual Concern

Restaurant Il Pastaio at 44th Annual Concern

SITK Kitchen at 44th Annual Concern Block Party

KABUKI at 44th Annual Concern Block Party

Fogo de Chao BBQ at 44th Annual Concern Block Party

The Paramount Studios backlot streets were filled with over 75 food and beverage vendors under the direction of Nancy Eisenstadt, Megan Mulcahy and Whitney Carroll including LA restaurants as  Vibrato Grill Jazz, Ocean Prime,It Pastaio, The Grill on the Alley, Fogo de Chao, Lawry’s The Prime Rib, Urban Oven, The Palm, Kabuki, Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs, SITK,  and many more. Musical and interactive entertainment were held on multiple stages and various locations including photo studios, casino style games and SPA services were provided by the Beauty Bus Foundation.

Bat mobile at DJ James dance floor at 44th Annual Concern Block Party

The evening Master of Ceremonies was KNX1070 News radio’s Frank Mottek and A/V Masters donated all of the audio and visual components.

Infiniti 2019 QX50 outside silent auction

Karen Ostlund w/ Concern's Superheroes at Brian Kramer's photo-booth

One of the highlights of the evening was silent and live auction under the direction of this year’s auction chairs Lynne Fox, Wendi Nogradi, Courtney Teller and Madeline Rose. Live and silent auction items and packages included one-of-a-kind opportunities, concert and event tickets, restaurants, stay cations, golf packages and the 15 feet Spider Man climbing down the Paramount Studio's building.

The 15 feet inflatable SPIDER MAN went for $600 at Concern live auction.

Recap of 2nd Annual MAISON ST-GERMAIN LA with Kate Young

#StGermaindrinks
#MaisonStGermain

By Karen Ostlund
Red carpet photo credit:Sansho Scott for BFA
 Additional photos by Karen Ostlund

(left) Host Kate Young and Dakota Johnson at Maison St.Germain

 Last night, January 10th, Nina Dobrev, Dakota Johnson, January Jones and Ashley Madekwe joined Hollywood stylist host KATE YOUNG at the 2nd Annual MAISON ST-GERMAIN LA.

The new location for 2018 was the Little Beach House Malibu also known as Malibu's The Soho House, which was transformed into Maison St.Germain of  Parisian oasis leading up to Bastille Day, July 14. All florals were donated after the event to the Sportsmen’s Lodge to spread the joyful spirit of Bastille Day.                 

Nina Dobrev and Ashley Madekwe

Erin Balfour w/Erin

After debuting in NYC this June, stylist Kate Young showed her first-ever installation of wild juxtapositions of flavors, styles and sensorial experiences, leading guests on a romantic-yet-whimsical journey throughout the beachfront restaurant. 

Drawing inspiration from traditional la fête nationale celebrations, the TV/Film star crowd – including Catt Sadler, Hart Denton, and Eric Balfour – were invited to enjoy a St. Germain Cocktail menu in celebration of the thousands of elderflowers harvested once a year to create St-Germain liqueur in France.                

   Guests enjoyed botanical arrangements by Jeff Leatham, DJ beats by music producer Noah Passovoy, performances by solo musician Jess Williamson, rooftop elderflower trees designed by Nine & Eye, along with crystal readings from the stylist-turned-Shaman Colleen McCann.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

BRIN VERT St. Germain Cocktail

The crowd mingled throughout the beachfront oasis, taking selfies in front of the rooftop mirrored arrangements, while sipping on specialty cocktail pairings presented by St-Germain Global Ambassador Camille Ralph Vidal. The cocktail menu featured: https://www.stgermain.fr/recipes/
St. Germain famous Spritz apéritif:
 Fill a tall Collins glass with ice. Add 2 parts Champagne first, then 1 1/2 St-Germain, then 2 parts Club Soda Stir completely and garnish with a lemon twist.
Other St. Germain cocktails on the menu:
The Rouge Cocktail: St Germain Elderflower liqueur, Bacardi 4, Rooibos Tea, Lemon Essential Oil and Raspberry.
The Brin Vert Cocktail: St Germain Elderflower liqueur, Oxley Gin, Coconut Water, Tio Pepe Fino, Absinthe and celery bitters.
The Egalite’ Cocktail:St Germain Elderflower liqueur, Grey Goose La Poire, Lime Juice, Rhubarb bitters and Pear Cider.                  

St-Germain Global Ambassador Camille Ralph Vidal

Additional photos by Karen Ostlund

Jess Williamson performed

 "St.Germain liqueur is made from
elderflower, a small, white starry flower that blooms through the spring and summer".

Daylight at Maison St Germain July 10

(left)Karen Ostlund w/Alicia Hollinger at Maison  St.Germain Elderflower tree photobooth