B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

A screening of the hot new film “Chocolat” served as a benefit for the

Orangewood Children’s Foundation recently hosted by El Portal in honor of

the opening of its new boutiques at South Coast Plaza.

A crowd of about 400 guests attended the grand opening event, which

began with the screening of the film at Edward’s South Coast Village

Cinema and followed by an El Portal in-store soiree featuring French hors

d’oeuvres prepared and served by the staff of Pinot Provence, decadent

chocolate martinis delivered by Skyy Vodka and an overflowing dessert

table laden with Bodega chocolates -- just in case the guests had not had

enough of the chocolate theme.

“How can there ever be too much chocolate?” mused Maria Menzagopian,

El Portal’s spokeswoman. “We are so honored to invite the local community

to see this film and to experience our new stores, while at the same time

raising funds for the Orangewood children.”

More than $16,000 was donated to the foundation from the evening’s

revelry.

The crowd was impressed with the new 7,000 square feet of side-by-side

El Portal boutiques at South Coast Plaza. Showcasing the finest selection

of travel, fashion and business accessories, the El Portal signature,

first established by E.W. Borsack in Las Vegas, Nev., has been a

family-run business for more than 60 years.

Recently acquired, the company is now poised to grow and expand,

opening some 125 new stores within the next three years.

Comparing film notes, chatting about the acting of Juliette Binoche,

Judi Dench and Johnny Depp in “Chocolat,” the crowd -- including Gary and

Maxine Cooper, Henri and Susan Samueli, Mitch and Lori Junkins, Richard

and Beth Gochnauer, David and Glenda Mason, Laurence and Cerise Feeley,

and Anton and Jennifer Segerstrom -- roamed the new store with El Portal

family members Jim and Renee Borsack, sampling delicacies and checking

out the latest leather accessories from Bally, Brighton and Celine, some

of the lines carried in the store.

Also spotted in the crowd were Peggy Goldwater Clay, television

newswoman Vicky Vargas, Jim and Patti Edwards, and Gene Howard, who

represented Orangewood.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.