Icons of Napa Valley Wine Dinner Returns to Henry’s Coastal Cuisine

Henry’s Coastal Cuisine will host an Icons of Napa Valley Wine Dinner on Friday, May 15 at 6 p.m., bringing together acclaimed guest chefs for a multi-course evening in support of Bracken’s Kitchen.

Set on the oceanfront patio at Henry’s Coastal Cuisine, the dinner highlights seasonal ingredients, thoughtful technique, and expertly paired Napa Valley wines, all tied to a meaningful cause. Tickets are $249 per guest, inclusive of service charge and parking, with $75 from each seat benefiting Bracken’s Kitchen and its mission to combat hunger and reduce food waste.

The evening begins with an oceanfront Champagne reception featuring Chef Bill Bracken, followed by a five-course menu paired with premier Napa wines:

Amuse
Kaluga caviar, roasted onion purée, society garlic flowers
Louis de Sacy Brut Original Champagne

First course by Benoit LaFleche
Summer squash and zucchini roll with poached lobster farce, creamy white wine and vadouvan reduction, citrus oil and fennel flowers
Double Diamond 2023 Sauvignon Blanc

Second course by Lewis Butler
Pan roasted Hokkaido scallops with lemon Yukon mousse, grilled baby gem, shellfish reduction and split buttermilk sauce
Robert Mondavi The Reserve Fumé Blanc 2023

Third course by Kris Kirk
Duck confit with blue corn polenta, spring vegetables and cabernet duck jus
Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Main course by Michael Wilson
Dry-aged New York strip with butter-roasted morel mushrooms, vanilla bean infused mushroom purée, parmesan sunchoke dauphine, brown butter mulberry compote and port Béarnaise
To Kalon 2023 Highest Beauty

Dessert
Chocolate mousse tian with caramel, lime biscuit and Grand Marnier ice cream
Robert Mondavi Moscato D’Oro

This one-night experience celebrates culinary talent while supporting the ongoing work of Bracken’s Kitchen. Founded in 2013 by Chef Bill Bracken, the nonprofit transforms surplus food into nutritious meals, provides culinary training, and serves communities across Orange County, delivering more than 2.2 million meals to date.

Henry's Coastal Cuisine is at The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel at 21100 CA-1, Huntington Beach. (714) 845-8000

An Evening of Connection and Compassion in Aliso Viejo

An evening of spirit communication and philanthropy is set for Friday, May 1, bringing together connection, healing and community support at the Aliso Viejo Country Club.

Master Channeler Oracle Maureen will share messages of love and closure from the Other Side during a special program that also raises awareness for equine-assisted therapy and the role horses play in supporting speech therapy, mental health and addiction recovery. Proceeds benefit The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception featuring hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, followed by a group reading at 7 p.m. Guests will then enjoy a seated dinner with wine service, concluding with dessert and closing remarks. Tickets start at $150 per person, and reservations are required at RazzberryReadingsAVCC

The event is organized by Angels Among Us Foundation, with all proceeds supporting therapeutic riding programs that help individuals facing a range of physical and emotional challenges.

At the heart of the evening is Razzberry, a therapy horse whose calm and intuitive nature supports participants in building confidence, emotional awareness and trust. Through programs at The Shea Center, horses like Razzberry provide a unique form of connection that complements traditional therapies.

For those unable to attend in person, a virtual group reading with Oracle Maureen will take place on May 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Tickets are $55 per person, with proceeds also benefiting the cause. Reservations, at VirtualRazzberryReadings

Space is limited for both events. For reservations or more information, visit AAUF.org/Razzberry or call 949-933-5504.

A Night at Knife Pleat Paired With South Coast Repertory’s Eat Me

South Coast Repertory and Knife Pleat are teaming up for a limited culinary and theatre experience that pairs a Michelin-starred meal with select performances of Eat Me, the world premiere comedy by Talene Monahon.

The collaboration brings together one of the country’s leading regional theatres and one of Southern California’s most celebrated dining destinations for an experience that blends cuisine and live performance.

“Pairing dinner and a show is about as classic as a great night out can get. Pairing fine dining at Knife Pleat and a world-premiere comedy about obsessing over food is an invitation to participate in a meta-theatrical experience of art imitating life,” said Suzanne Appel. “Artistic Director David Ivers and I found in Knife Pleat’s Chef Tony Esnault and Restaurateur Yassmin Sarmadi co-conspirators in the expansion of theatre’s artistic possibilities. Our aim with this pairing is to create a unique experience that, from table to stage, captures our deeply human need to nourish our bodies and our souls.”

The $275 per person package begins with a 5 p.m. prix fixe menu at Knife Pleat, followed by premium tickets to a 7:30 p.m. performance. Upcoming dates include April 14, April 16, April 18, April 23, April 24, April 25, April 29, May 1 and May 2. Each evening is limited to 16 guests, with a maximum of six per party.

Eat Me centers on a group of food-obsessed characters navigating appetite, identity and connection. The play was inspired in part by Gourmand Syndrome, a rare condition linked to an intense fixation on fine food.

Knife Pleat, led by Tony Esnault and Yassmin Sarmadi, has held a Michelin star since 2021. The restaurant brings contemporary French, ingredient-driven cuisine to the penthouse level of South Coast Plaza.

Reservations are available through South Coast Repertory at scr.org or by phone. Subscribers may add the dining experience to existing tickets for $195, plus any applicable upgrade fees.