Cooking Up a Gala for March of Dimes

The kitchen designers had come to the Sheraton Premiere about midnight the night before and created all sorts of culinary cubbyhole fantasies for backdrops.

The celebrity chefs, chosen as much for their pizazz as for their names, had contrived wonders, which they willingly placed on the line for the March of Dimes supporters ($250 per person) to criticize and for the luminaries of the cuisine world to judge--people such as restaurant columnists Lois Dwan, Pierre Franey, James Villas and Jan Weimer; chefs such as Wolfgang Puck of Spago and John Sedlar of St. Estephe; and Martha Stewart, cookbook author.

Someone had to be judged best. Would it be Cristina Ferrare Thomopoulos and Tony T with their Crepes da Vinci? Or Phyllis and Jess Marlow with Chocolate Carmel Fantasia; Drew Barrymore and Michael Praed with Biscuit Menagerie; Lisa and Kim Bell with Cinnamon Apples en Croute with Creme Anglaise; Wayne Rogers and Finola Hughes’ Scungilli, or DeWain and Jina Valentine with 1-2-3 Sea Bass; Tuck and Tom Trainer Jr.’s Ceviche; Stephen and Marcia Cannell’s Papillon de Cannell; Vilma Martinez’s Paella; Keith and Bill Kieschnick’s Hopkins County Stew; George Hamilton’s and Kate Jackson’s Pasta Primavera; or Vidal and Jeanette Sassoon’s Putanesca a la Silvana?

None of them. A musician and an art expert, Ernest Fleischmann and Lyn Kienholz, won with their South African bobotie dish, which, after judging, landed at the table of Joan and John Hotchkis, and was devoured in spite of the glorious meal that the Sheraton had served for 525 guests.

It was part of the hoopla carefully constructed by Andrea Van de Kamp, Joanne Kozberg and Nancy Vreeland and their dinner coordinator, Phyllis Hennigan, to net probably close to $180,000, maybe more, for the March of Dimes causes, according to calculations by that organization’s executive director Thomas Canar. Similar parties are held in other major cities to raise funds for genetic research to prevent birth defects.

Tuesday night nearly $20,000 was raised on an auction of aprons designed by stellar artists. The David Hockney apron actually was bid up to $8,000 by Dona and Dwight Kendall, but in the hustle bustle Vincent Price was proclaiming Barbara Lazaroff, standing on the dance floor gesturing spiritedly, as the winner at $7,500. She promptly claimed the prize and dashed it over to husband Wolfgang Puck. The Robert Graham went for $3,250, Price himself bought the Billy Al Bengston, Derek Knudson the Ed Moses, and others will frame or cook spaghetti in a Peter Alexander, Charles Arnoldi and Laddie John Dill apron.

Said Nancy Vreeland, accompanied by Tim: “The kitchen designers did the hard work.” Thus, the Trainers were assembling beneath a Maxine Smith and Celia Cleary job with chandelier, others in kitchen finery by Kalef Alaton, Thomas Allardyce, Illya Hendrix, Val Arnold, Kurt Stephens, Tom Buckley, Louis Cataffo, Jack E. Lowrance, Janet Polizzi, Jackie Morgen and Lazaroff, Mimi London, Anthony Machado, Brindell Roberts and Darlene Bricker.

The polished crowd admired and adulated: Joyce McCray and Gep Durenburger, Hannah and Ed Carter (he was corporate gift chairman), the Ed Landrys, Henry and Noorna Eversole, Rufus Rogers, Martha and Jimmy Kilroe, Victoria Coberly, Milo Bixby, Georgie Van de Kamp, Gabriella Santaniello, Monica Pitts, Dan and Joan Baker, and so many more.

The Frederick Nicholases hosted a dinner party for 37 at Chasen’s as a farewell to honor Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo and his son Alessandro. Dr. Panza is a founder of the Museum of Contemporary Art, which Nicholas serves as vice chairman of the board of trustees.

A historical cross section of works represented at Panza’s palatial Milan residence has come to Los Angeles and forms an important basis of MOCA’s permanent collection.

Among guests were William F. Kieschnick, chairman of the trustees; museum director Richard Koshalek and his wife Betty, Doug Cramer, Craig Johnson, Judge and Mrs. William Norris, Mrs. John Van de Kamp, Mrs. Harry Maron, and Messrs. and Mmes. Leo Wyler, Elliott Horwitch, Dick Brawerman, Max Medvin, Mike Stern, Irving Fuller, Steven Antebi, David Licht, and Muriel Slatkin and Bronya Pereira.

Historically, it’s been traditional for young women presented at the Easter Monday Presentation Ball to be presented to the archbishop of the diocese. This year, the 25 will be presented to Bishop John J. Ward, vicar general of the archdiocese.

Mrs. Donley Brady, president of the Social Service Auxiliary, heads the ball committee co-chairmen--Mmes. Michael A. Wayne and Joseph Hegener--who stage the event March 31 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton to raise funds for Sisters of Social Service community activities.

Many of the young women are daughters or nieces of those presented at the first ball in 1958 at the Hilton.

The 25 named by presentee co-chairmen, Mmes. Anthony P. Artukovich and Charles E. Nutt, are Misses Colleen Mary Blackmore, Brooke Davis Bollero, Suzanne Borchard, Carrie Cappai, Kristan Cardoza, Carolyn Collins, Jessica Fourti, Brooke Gershon, Georgianne Gibbs, Catherine Henkel, Susanne Jennett, Teresa Johnson, Mary King, Kelly Learman, Anne McIntyre, Maureen Meihaus, Katherine O’Connor, Jennifer Olch, Susanne Ramos, Nina Ristani, Elizabeth Roley, Ann-Marie Villicana, Kristin Vinton, Susan Viola, and Mary Workman.

Contacting benefactors are Mrs. C. Peter Nigg and Mrs. J. Thomas McCarthy.

Others involved are Mmes. Robert J. Liechti, Morris Weiner, Edward W. Hayes Jr., Stafford R. Grady, Dale Webster, Annelle M. Guss, Toni Wayne La Cava, N. A. Lamberti, Thomas J. Hickey Jr., Andrew Zaninovich, Victor Sutherlen, Edward W. Loftus, Lawrence O. Mackel, Frank J. McEntee, Cornelius Pings, William D. Jennett, Robert M. Sullivan, Thomas A. Lynch, Brent Lester Daves, and Miss Diane Downey.

H.E.L.P. for Handicapped Children will honor Eddie Albert as Humanitarian of the Year at its ninth annual Fashion Show and Membership Luncheon on March 19 at the Beverly Hilton.

President Gretta Kinstler and special events chairman Carlo Celoni present the accolade. Barbara Firestone, executive director of Children’s Speech and Hearing Center, New School for Child Development and Project Six, all benefiting from the luncheon, will be in the audience.

Ten of Beverly Hills elegant boutiques will be featured in the fashion show: Elizabeth Arden, St. Laurent Rive Gauche, Lina Lee, Maruscha, Ted Lapidus and Luciano Soprani, Krizia and Valentino. Tallarico will provide the glamorous jewels and Edwards-Lowell the furs.

Tickets are $50 and $75 for the gold circle.

“Look Well! Feel Well! A Perspective for a Healthy You.” That topic is the enrichment for Marlborough Alumnae Assn.’s 11th annual Spring Perspectives Wednesday.

The hard-at-work committee includes Mrs. Hoyt Leisure, chairman; Mrs. Ronald Hartwick, Alumnae Council president, and Mmes. Davis Brunson, Henry De Nero, George Stoneman, Earl Russell and Clifford Lord.

Four MD’s take the stage: Drs. David Heber, Andrea Rapkin, Lindsey Henson and Carol Edelstein. They’ll cover everything from exercise to osteoporosis and bulimia.

Health is also the talk of the day Monday when the Auxiliary of the Hospital of the Good Samaritan stages its second biannual “A Time for Women” at the hospital. Morning seminars on surgery, sleeping disorders, aging gracefully and cancer as related to nutrition will be discussed by Drs. Anne Hood, Eileen Bardolph and Patricia Gifford and by Marilyn Nobori.

Proceeds of the event arranged by Mrs. F. Grant Buckle will go to the new obstetrical services at the hospital. Mmes. John C. Westwater and George B. Stoneman are on the committee.

And, memory and how to improve it will be discussed by Arthur Bornstein at Vista Del Mar Associates membership luncheon Wednesday at the Vista del Mar Child-Care Service.

Mrs. Sanford Sigoloff is chairman. On the luncheon committee are Mmes. Philip Ball, Edward Berzer, I. Lew Mintz, S. Andy Seligman, Jacob Shuken and Maurice Sidy.

When Peter Mondavi was named Winemaker of the Year at the Friends of the Junior Arts Center 13th annual California Wine Seminar at the Bonaventure he noted that, as a wine maker, he’s always looking for “the velvet finish.”

Board president Louise Brinsley, in happy spirits, set the tone for the evening, with a light-hearted Dusty Bottle Silent Auction.

In the crowd were Ann and Denny Boren (he’s raising millions for the Nature Conservancy by turning around real estate ventures), Teresa Longyear, Councilman Michael Woo, chairman Jan Walker, Michael and Susan Connell, Ann and Douglas Longyear, Missy and Malcolm Stuart, Russel and Hannah Kully, Gavin Miller, Harry and Denise Chandler, Michael and Diane Cornwell, the Robert Mondavis, the Douglas Goodans, Muriel Jaffe and lots of center supporters.

“Dynasty’s” Diahann Carroll will entertain at the black-tie gala honoring Jean and Ernest Hahn March today. The American Friends of the Hebrew University host the event at the Palm Springs Sheraton Plaza.

The Hahns will be honored with Scopus Laureates for their philanthropic efforts supporting medical research and higher eduction.

Also attending will be Gerald and Betty Ford, Dolores and Bob Hope, Judy Gelfand, John Sinn and Danny Schwartz, among former laureates.

Hosting a small dinner at the Regency Club to “just relax” and honor Mike and Linda Curb after he announced for lieutenant governor were Lester and Carolbeth Korn and Walter and Speedy Beran. Among their guests were Dick and Eileen Eamer, Bud and Betsy Knapp, and Sue Cummings, widow of the late ambassador to Austria, Ted Cummings.

USC’s Trojan Guild celebrated its 25th year honoring the 40th anniversary of the university’s Division of Drama at Trojan Guild Day. The morning chronicled the past 40 years of drama at USC, while raising scholarship funds. Ronald Wayne Manuel produced the retrospective.

Guild president Nancy Hoffman of San Marino and Trojan Guild Day chairman Naomi Cummings of Burbank arranged “Savor the Season.”

We’re told by Bruce A. Meyer, president of Geary’s in Beverly Hills, that nearly 3,000 dropped in for the “enormously successful” Bridal Fair under the tent attached to the store on Beverly Drive. Among them were Vicki Ueberroth and her fiance, William Booth, and her mother, Mrs. Peter Ueberroth; Maria Siciliano and her mother, Mrs. Rocco Siciliano, and that daughter-mother PR duo, Laura Segal (the bride-to-be) and Claire.

At the Chevaliers du Tastevin (the international wine society) annual white-tie dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Ballroom, Bob Burns, president of Regent International Hotels, was inducted into the illustrious Los Angeles chapter. The late Hernando Courtright, owner of the Beverly Wilshire, was devoted to the group as grand officer and founder of the chapter.

KUDOS: Architect Charles Luckman has been elected chairman of the national board of trustees of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge (President Reagan served as a trustee 16 years). . . .

Shirley C. Burden has been named chairman of the trustees of Art Center College of Design, according to new president David R. Brown. . . .

St. Mary’s Hospital Guild presented a check to St. Mary Medical Center’s administrator Sister Mary Lucille Desmond for $130,625. Outgoing president Pat Hines did the honors at the Virginia Country Club in Long Beach. . . .

The Inner Circle, the Los Angeles Children’s Museum premiere support group, kicked off the year with an installation luncheon and a check for $30,000 for museum director Jack Armstrong. Susan Antebi is accepting a second term as president. Carole Bayer Sager was guest speaker, talking on the importance of taking chances in life. She and husband Burt Bacharach recently adopted a baby, Christopher. . . .

A tuneful time was had by all when Westridge School Glee Club friends and alumnae gathered to honor Howard S. Swan, choral conductor, lecturer and writer and the school’s Glee Club director between 1938-68. . . .

Friends of Vieilles Maisons Francaises held its annual meeting at Bullocks Wilshire and then celebrated the opening of the Genny Boutique with a champagne luncheon and reception hosted by Jerome Nemiro of Bullocks Wilshire. Mrs. Christian Frere conducted the meeting. Last year the luncheon netted more than $3,000 for restoration of the central staircase at Chateau Lafox in France. . . .