Lemonade for a Good Cause

I was back in LA this past weekend and attended Alex's Lemonade Stand, a wonderful charity raising money to treat and prevent childhood cancer. The event was beautifully organized, the weather was fantastic, the attendance was star-filled (Jimmy Kimmel was the Emcee for the event, Michelle Branch performed and there seemed to be an endless stream of celebrities) and the food was worth writing home about.

Of course there was lemonade with fresh strawberries

One of the highlights of the day for me was meeting Katrina Markoff - the founder of Vosges Chocolate. I have been a huge fan of the exotic truffles, hot chocolate, mixes and all things Vosges for years so it was a true honor to meet the woman behind the purple boxes.

Decadent Vosges truffles (courtesy of CBSChicago.com)

I had the opportunity to enjoy food from some of my favorite celebrity chefs. I had panini with nutella and banana prepared by one of my favorite Food Network stars Giada De Laurentiis (she brought her adorable daughter Jade). Chef Jonathan Waxman made a seemingly simple salad with steak that melted in my mouth. Fellow "Top Chef Master" contestant Mary Sue Milliken prepared a chip with the most delicious bean mixture.

Mary Sue's hearty bean dish

"Top Chef" season 6 winner Michael Voltaggio was nice enough to pose for a picture with me.

I think we'd make a pretty cute couple

Chef Voltaggio's delicious oyster chicken dish served cleverly in oyster shells nestled on a bed of salt rocks

The food was all tremendous. Each chef spent their time and effort preparing dishes that were thoughtful, beautiful executed and delicious. Most stood up to the 80+ degree temperatures too which was mighty impressive.

Loved this dish - it's purple potatoes were stunning

Quirky presentation plus caviar

Treats - some filled with ice cream from Sweet Rose Creamery

The lively scene at Culver Studios

Looking forward to get more involved with a wonderful charity and attending this event again next year!