The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 12th annual “Simply diVine,” billed as the premier food and wine event for LGBT people and their allies, will be held Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m across the street from the center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza.
The event will offer guests samples of food and drinks from popular Los Angeles restaurants, food trucks, wineries, distilleries, breweries, juicers and coffee roasters. All proceeds will go to support the center’s programs, including services for LGBT youth, seniors, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Tickets ($125 general admission and $500 for VIP tickets) are available online.
The Club VIP ticket provides exclusive early access at 5 p.m. That includes private bartenders from The Chapel at The Abbey and tastings of high-end wines and Tito’s Handmade Vodka specialty cocktails. There will be food by well-known chefs such as Susan Feniger (Border Grill, The Blue Window), Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill Restaurants and Truck), Kajsa Alger (the Blue Window) and J. Scot Jones (Crossroads). There also will be music by the Denise Fraser Trio and magic by Bill Bailey. Complimentary valet parking included.
“For more than a decade, Simply diVine has combined two of my passions — food and charity,” said Feniger. “Mix in some great company spent in the beautiful outdoors, and you have one amazing experience. My fellow chefs — Suzanne Goin, Suzanne Tracht and Mary Sue Milliken, just to name a few — are selflessly sharing their culinary talents for a wonderful cause. With more than 50 restaurants, wineries and beverage partners participating this year, we are going to raise a tremendous amount of money so that we can continue to build a better world for LGBT people —o ne person at a time.”
Restaurant partners include Ayara Thai Cuisine, The Black Cat, Blue Window Dumpling and Noodle House with Bon Appetit, Border Grill, Chef Draden, Coolhaus, Connie and Ted’s, Craft, Crossroads, da Kikokiko, Duff’s Cakemix, Farmboy Kitchen, Gracias Madre, Jar, Madcapra/Kismet, Milo+Olive, Pizzeria Il Fico, POT, RAO’S Hollywood, Salt & Straw, Sotto, Tavern, Terrine, and The Village Idiot.
Wineries, craft beers, spirits, specialty coffees and juicers include Amazebowls, Angel City Brewery, The Assembly, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Classic Wines, Health-Ade Kombucha, Humm Kombucha, Hollywood Hot Sauce, Intelligentsia Coffee, Jardesca California Aperitiva, JFC International, J. Lohr Vineyeards & Wines, Kikori Whiskey, Mighty Swell, Mosaic Wine Alliance, Mulholland Distilling, Pochteca Liqueurs, Popdup, Sapporo USA, SelvaRey Rum, Selective Origins, Verve Coffee Roasters, and Young’s Market Company,
Sous chef sponsor is Wells Fargo. Sommelier sponsors are American Airlines, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and H&R Block. Pastry Chef sponsors are Bon Appétit Management Company, Keller Williams Realty Beverly Hills, Sysco and Yellow Cab. Official VIP vodka sponsor is Tito’s Handmade Vodka. In-kind sponsors are Acqua Panna, All-Clad, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Chopin Vodka, Gem & Bolt, Jenn-Air and Panda Express.
Simply diVine will be managed by returning co-chairs Feniger along with David Bailey (HGTV’s “Selling L.A.” and Keller Williams Realty Beverly Hills — both of whom serve on the center’s board of directors— along with Laurie Deddens, beverage steward at Pavilions West Hollywood. Jory Burton from Sotheby’s International Realty returns as this year’s host committee chair.
Entertainment at the Club VIP Lounge will be provided by Denise Fraser Trio. Music and entertainment at the main event will be provided by DJ Asha.
L.A LGBT Center is 1116 N. McCadden Place in Los Angeles. Entrance to the event is at the gate at North Las Palmas Ave.)
