CELEBRITY CHEFS ANNOUNCED FOR NARSAI TOAST Connoisseurs of fine cuisine feast at annual benefit for Berkeley Rep; Acclaimed soprano Lisa Vroman to perform WHO: Narsai M. David (host), Lisa Vroman (entertainment) and six celebrity chefs: Chris Kennedy Aken of Calistoga’s Stomp Restaurant; Traci Des Jardins of Jardinière; Jean-Pierre Dubray of the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco; Mark Franz of Farallon and Nancy Oakes and Pamela Mazzola of Boulevard WHAT: 13th annual Narsai Toast, a gourmet gala & wine auction benefiting Berkeley Repertory Theatre WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco / 600 Stockton Street / San Francisco WHEN: Friday, April 22, 2005, 6 PM (reception) and 7:30 PM (four-course dinner) HOW MUCH: Tables from $4,000 to $10,000 INFO & TIX: 510.647.2906, www.berkeleyrep.org or kberzon@berkeleyrep.org BERKELEY CA, MARCH 10, 2005 Today, local culinary expert, Narsai M. David, announced the celebrity chefs for the 13th annual Narsai Toast, a gourmet gala and wine auction benefiting Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Tony Award-winning theatre, the Narsai Toast takes place on Friday, April 22 at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. Beginning with a champagne reception and wine auction at 6 PM, the event features a gourmet dinner and live auction at 7:30 PM with entertainment by acclaimed soprano Lisa Vroman. This year’s gala features hors d’oeuvres and a four-course dinner prepared by Northern California’s hottest chefs: Chris Kennedy Aken of Calistoga’s Stomp Restaurant; Traci Des Jardins of Jardinière; Jean-Pierre Dubray of the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco; Mark Franz of Farallon and Nancy Oakes and Pamela Mazzola of Boulevard. The chefs will pair each course with fine wines selected from prestigious vineyards, including Cakebread Cellars, Domaine Carneros by Taittinger, Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves, Iron Horse Vineyards, J Vineyards & Winery, Louis M. Martini Winery, Merry Edwards Wines and Raymond Vineyard & Cellar. The 2005 Narsai Toast is supported by lead sponsor Fossil and event sponsors American Airlines, KCBS All News 740 and the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. “Over the past 12 years, the Narsai Toast has become the epitome of gastronomic excellence showcasing the culinary talents of some of the country’s leading chefs—and this year will be no exception,” says Narsai David, an expert on wine and cuisine for KCBS and a founding member of Berkeley Rep’s Board of Trustees. “Each year, the gala is one of the Bay Area’s most magical evenings, dazzling 500 guests from the arts, business and culinary communities.” “Many people don’t realize that our theatre is a nonprofit organization,” remarks Susan Medak, managing director of Berkeley Rep. “This gala is our major fundraiser, and we rely on the sale of tax-deductible tickets and tables to continue bringing world-class theatre to the Bay Area. In its 12-year history, the event has raised more than $2 million to support our artistic work, educational programs and community outreach. We truly appreciate the ongoing support of the culinary community.” In past years, the Narsai Toast has featured the cuisine of chefs such as Thomas Keller, Paul Prudhomme, Wolfgang Puck, Jeremiah Tower and Charlie Trotter. The chefs for 2005 are drawn from the finest restaurants in Northern California: • Chris Kennedy Aken is the executive chef of Stomp Restaurant in Calistoga. He previously worked in the Wine Country as chef de cuisine at Jan Birnbaum’s Catahoula and has held positions in the kitchens of fine restaurants in Chicago, San Francisco and his hometown of Oklahoma City. • Traci Des Jardins, chef and owner of San Francisco’s Jardinière since 1997, has worked in noted establishments such as Montrachet in Manhattan, 7th Street Bistro in Los Angeles and Acme Chophouse, Aqua, Elka and Rubicon in San Francisco. She is known for instituting socially and environmentally responsible programs in her restaurants. • Jean-Pierre Dubray is executive chef at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. A native of Chateau Renault in France, he has opened restaurants at 16 Ritz-Carlton hotels around the world, including in Barcelona, Osaka, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai and Singapore. • Mark Franz is a third-generation restaurateur who is executive chef and co-owner of San Francisco’s Farallon restaurant. Prior to opening Farallon in 1997, he spent more than a decade as executive chef at Jeremiah Tower’s Stars. • Nancy Oakes opened San Francisco’s Boulevard, where she is executive chef and co-owner, in 1993. A self-taught chef who has found great success, her previous restaurants were Barnacle and L’Avenue. • Pamela Mazzola helped open L’Avenue with Oakes in 1987 and joined her as executive chef at Boulevard six years later. She trained at the Colorado Culinary Institute in Denver. Entertainment at the event will be provided by acclaimed soprano Lisa Vroman, who starred as Christine in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera for two years, and in San Francisco’s record-setting run of the show. PBS viewers remember her from “Hey, Mr. Producer!,” the London Royal Gala honoring Sir Cameron Mackintosh and from Stephen Sondheim’s Emmy Award-winning “Sweeney Todd in Concert” with Patti Lupone and the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus. In 1999, Vroman appeared with Bebe Neuwirth and Nancy Dussault in The Threepenny Opera at American Conservatory Theatre. She has performed with at least a dozen orchestras across America, including with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas in San Francisco. Vroman’s solo CD, “Broadway Classic,” features 47 of San Francisco’s most talented symphony players and a guest performance by Stephanie Blythe of the Metropolitan Opera. The 2005 Narsai Toast is chaired by Rich Edwards, Mary Hamilton, Michael Steinberg and Jean Z. Strunsky. The event is made possible, in part, by the generosity of the Citigroup Private Bank; DFS Group, Ltd; the Ira & Leonore Gershwin Trust; Jeffries & Company; Macy’s; Osterweis Capital Management; Michael & Sue Steinberg and the Roda Group. Sponsors also include Steve Cassidy & Marjorie Randolph, Charles Schwab, Foley & Lardner LLP, Sarah McArthur & Michael LeValley, Meyer Sound, Peter Pervere & Georgia Cassel, Reed Smith LLP, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal and Wells Fargo. For the auction, Narsai David will reprise his role as auctioneer. Guests have the opportunity to bid on an array of wines from Northern California vineyards and from private collections, as well as numerous unique gourmet adventures: a six-day culinary walking tour through Andalucia, Spain from Butterfield & Robinson; a dinner for eight prepared by chef Jan Birnbaum at Domaine Carneros Chateau in the Napa Valley; a dinner for ten at Staglin Family Vineyard, prepared by chef Todd Humphries of Martini House; a dinner for ten at the home of Narsai and Venus David; getaways to exclusive destinations like New York and Tuscany and two model 424 sub-zero wine refrigerators, each filled with a premium collection of wine. Tables for the Narsai Toast are priced between $4,000 and $10,000. All proceeds from the event support Berkeley Rep’s mission to set a national standard for ambitious programming, engagement of its audiences and leadership within the community. Formal attire is not required. To sponsor a table, or for more information, contact Kirsten Berzon, Berkeley Rep’s special events manager, at 510.647.2906 or kberzon@berkeleyrep.org. Media contact: Terence Keane 510.647.2917, tkeane@berkeleyrep.org BACK TO TOP