Rebecca Reports

This last week definitely had a champagne and food focus!

Starting before thanksgiving I was invited to a Dior cosmetics master class at Saks Fifth Avenue. Lisa Marie Browne, Executive Director of Friends of the Uffizi won the class for ten, at an auction at the Fort Lauderdale Art Museum. The class was wonderful so was the champagne. In retrospect, I think we should have applied our air brush foundation before the champagne cork was popped!

Monday, it was back to Boca West Country Club for a private luncheon to celebrate the success of Henrietta Countess de Hoernle’s 95th birthday party held there in September. Proceeds from the party along with a donation from the countess will fund a free public concert at Mizner Park in April. Club president and general manager, Jay DiPietro, introduced Executive Chef Hans Dietrich, who received a round of grateful applause for his work on the party.

Fellow guests included Caldwell Theater board members, Mimi Sadler and Evelyn Swid. The dynamic duo are looking forward to Monday’s dedication of the Caldwell’s new Count de Hoernle Theatre and planning the annual “Broadway Babies” fundraiser. Scheduled for January 21, a new look “Babes” event will be held in the evening at the new theater.

Wednesday was a preview of McCormick & Schmick’s’ five-course Champagne Dinner scheduled for December 11. At only $99 per person I’d say it’s going to be a sell out, so call Lindsey LaZaroff at 561-394-2428 to book ahead.

Thursday it was back to Saks for a champagne reception celebrating the opening of the CHANEL Beauty boutique and the launch of Les Exclusifs de CHANEL, a new collection of exclusive fragrances.

Then it was off to the Boca Resort & Club for the Boca Bacchanal 2008 Vintner Dinners “Pairings Party.” co-hosted by Citibank and the Resort’s Executive Chef, Andrew Roenbeck. Congratulations to the Bacchanal for being voted a national top 20 wine event by wine bible Wine Spectator. The Vintner Dinners on February 29, kick off the Bacchanal which runs though March 2. All proceeds benefit the Boca Raton Historical Society.

I’ve been invited to Peter and Melinda Baronoff’s “Texan Toque of the Town” themed Vinter Dinner. The chef will be John Tesar, Executive Chef of world-famous, The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas, with wine from California’s Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Vineyards. Can’t wait! I’m told the hosts of these dinners take them very seriously. In year’s past, a dinner at an Intracoastal estate featured dining tables under custom-built Chinese pagodas. Last year, genial Swedes Asa and Per Olaf Loof, booked members of the Florida Opera to entertain dinner guests!

And that is life in Boca…