Taste & Tribute

Eighteen culinary masters will place their unique stamp on Taste & Tribute, the Tibetan Aid Project's third annual fundraiser. The chefs, in teams of two, will prepare and serve different and distinctive four-course menus to diners seated around them in a horseshoe configuration. Each course will be paired with fine wines from California vintners. The collaboration of these renowned chefs, 17 from the Bay Area together with Eric Ripert of New York's famed Le Bernardin, will make for an exceptional experience. The interactive table arrangement contributes to an atmosphere of camaraderie and goodwill. Presented in a festive setting with Tibetan-inspired decor, the gala event will be held at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco on Wednesday, October 22nd at 6 PM. The evening includes silent and live auctions and multimedia presentations on the Tibetan Aid Project's support for the production and distribution of centuries-old sacred texts. For over thirty years, the Tibetan Aid Project (TAP) has been helping to rebuild and preserve traditional Tibetan culture worldwide. Founded by Tibetan lama Tarthang Tulku in 1969, the Project is staffed entirely by volunteers. Its original mission was to provide humanitarian aid to Tibetan refugees struggling to survive in exile. Today, TAP helps support the production and distribution of sacred Tibetan texts and art to Tibetans in Asia. It also provides general assistance to monastic centers, sponsors traditional ceremonies, and works to promote awareness of Tibetan civilization around the world. The Tibetan Aid Project is a non-profit tax-exempt corporation, registered as the Tibetan Nyingma Relief Foundation. For more information and to see the menus for each team of chefs, visit www.tibetanaidproject.org. Tickets for the benefit are $250 per person and are available through the Tibetan Aid Project, 2910 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley CA 94702, (510) 848-4238 or tap@tibetanaidproject.org. The Ritz-Carlton is located at 600 Stockton Street in San Francisco. Chef Teams: Jean-Pierre Dubray of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco & Xavier Salomon of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Laurent Manrique of Aqua & Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin Jean Alberti of Kokkari Estiatorio & Gerald Hirigoyen of Piperade Traci Des Jardins of Jardinière & Loretta Keller of Bizou David Gingrass of Hawthorne Lane & Jason Tallent of Globe Laurent Gras of Fifth Floor & Daniel Humm of Campton Place Tanya Holland of Le Theatre & Bart Hosmer of Parcel 104 Kelsie Kerr of Chez Panisse & Dennis Leary of Rubicon Melissa Perello of Charles Nob Hill & Ron Siegel of Masa's