New Tahoe Nonprofit to Launch at Homewood Event
Lake Tahoe – July 7, 2011 – Five of the most celebrated chefs from the Bay Area and Reno/Tahoe will showcase their talents at the Tahoe Fund benefit dinner, The Art of All Things, on Monday, August 15 at Lake Tahoe’s West Shore Café in Homewood. Mark Franz, Parke Ulrich, Emily Luchetti, Mark Estee and Rusty Johns will be sharing their culinary creations with Tahoe Fund Founder Circle members and supporters, including guest of honor Senator Dianne Feinstein and her husband Dick Blum.
The Tahoe Fund is a new nonprofit that is partnering with public agencies in protecting and improving the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of Lake Tahoe. Proceeds from the fund raising event will help launch the new organization, which seeks to help fund bike trails, lakefront parks, restoration projects, interpretive programs, and other amenities that people use and enjoy at the Lake. Tickets are $300 apiece.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have an extraordinary dining experience while supporting the funding of environmental projects at Tahoe,” said Cindy Gustafson, Tahoe Fund Chair of the Board. “The world-class culinary delights, the extraordinary West Shore Café lakeside setting and the satisfaction of supporting the Tahoe Fund make this kickoff dinner a very special opportunity for everyone who loves the Lake.”
The five award-winning Northern California chefs have won honors including the nationally-acclaimed James Beard Award and recognition from Esquire, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Zagat Guide and the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Mark Franz is partner at San Francisco’s Waterbar and Farallon, two of the highest rated and most popular restaurants in San Francisco, and is the recipient of the “Chef of the Decade” award by the California Culinary Academy. He has been nominated for the nationally-acclaimed James Beard Award, and led the opening of Nick’s Cove Restaurant as well as Stars Restaurant, which many believe set the standard for world-class dining in San Francisco.
- After a highly successful ten-year stint opening and leading the Farallon restaurant in San Francisco, Parke Ulrich has found tremendous success as Executive Chef at Waterbar since it opened in January 2008, garnering both restaurants Bay Area Top 100 status.
- Emily Luchetti was named Pastry Chef of the Year in 2004 by the James Beard Foundation and is on the roster of deans at the French Culinary Institute. Author of six cookbooks, Emily is also the Executive Pastry Chef at Waterbar and Farallon and has worked with Mark Franz for 20 years as they were both part of the opening team of Stars Restaurant.
- Mark Estee’s culinary credo is “fresh, simple, local, and seasonal.” He has opened several successful restaurants in Truckee and Northstar at Tahoe, including Moody’s Bistro and Lounge, and is the Executive Chef at Campo in Reno. He was named Tahoe’s Best Chef in the prestigious Blazing Pans competition.
- A longtime Tahoe resident, Rusty Johns has worked at some of Tahoe’s top restaurants, including Ristorante Montagna at the Resort at Squaw Creek and Moody’s Bistro and Lounge, and is now Executive Chef at the West Shore Café.
Tickets for the Tahoe Fund Benefit Dinner on August 15 may be purchased by calling (775) 298-0035 after July 12, or by emailing vkahn@tahoefund.org. Please reserve your tickets early, as seating is limited.