Star Chefs & Vintners Gala
Benefiting Meals On Wheels of San Francisco

May 14 | archive | subscribe

The black tie gala features Gala Chef Chair Nancy Oakes of Boulevard and ABC’s Cheryl Jennings and Don Sanchez emcee the event at the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center on Sunday, May 18, 2008 benefiting Meals On Wheels of San Francisco (MOWSF).

"Over the past year, Meals On Wheels of San Francisco has been able to serve more than 800,000 meals to 2,200 seniors," said Ashley McCumber, Executive Director of Meals On Wheels of San Francisco. "This is due in large part to the Star Chefs & Vintners Gala, our most important fundraiser of the year, and the generosity of these world-class chefs and wineries."

The event features a wine reception, a seated three course dinner as well as a live auction and fund-a-route. The grand finale is a decadent dessert reception and dancing. Last year's event, raised a record $1 million towards providing San Francisco's seniors with meals and vital support services.

Among the chefs participating in this year's gala are: Jan Birnbaum (Epic Roasthouse), David Kinch (Manresa), Douglas Keane (Cyrus), Elizabeth Faulkner (Orson / Citizen Cake), Richard Reddington (REDD), Nate Appleman (A16 / SPQR), Chris Cosentino (Incanto / Boccolone), Staffan Terje (Perbacco), Laurence Jossel (NOPA), Shotaro "Sho" Kamio (Yoshi's San Francisco) and Cal Stamenov (Marinus). Many of California's leading wine producers will also take part in the Gala, providing wine pairings for each of the specially prepared dishes. Participating vintners include Cakebread Cellars, Chalk Hill Estate Vineyard & Winery, Duckhorn Vineyards, Grgich Hills Estate and Silver Oak Cellars.

MOWSF began as a grass-roots movement over 38 years ago with local members of the community looking out for their elderly neighbors. Concerned for the health and well being of seniors who were unable to shop for or prepare meals, this group began preparing meals in neighborhood kitchens and delivering them to seniors throughout San Francisco.  These volunteer efforts took hold and Meals On Wheels of San Francisco was founded in 1970. 

As the program grew, it became apparent that isolated homebound seniors needed more than a meal.  To help improve their quality of life, full-time social workers and nutritionists were hired.  In 1995, Meals On Wheels of San Francisco opened its own industrial kitchen in Bayview/ Hunter's Point.  This facility helped to improve the efficiency of production and delivery and provides meals for several other home-delivered meal programs in the Bay Area.

Today, more than 1,400 homebound seniors receive meals every day.  Furthermore, collaboration with several local agencies allows us to provide our senior clients with access to the services they need to remain healthy and independent.  Our growth has been tremendous but the need for support continues to outpace the public funding available to provide these services.

Meals On Wheels of San Francisco exists to alleviate the fear, food insecurity, and loneliness experienced by seniors who want to stay in their own home but cannot shop or prepare meals for themselves. The reasons clients turn to Meals On Wheels of San Francisco are varied, but the results are the same: home-delivered meals and a link to the world outside their front door. http://www.mowaa.org/