Local fund-raisers artfully blend good food, good causes

In the past two months, we've heard about a new natural disaster nearly every week — hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding and mud slides. Generous donations have poured out to devastated places around the world.

Meanwhile, there are nonprofit organizations here at home that still need operating funds for the work they do. Local chefs, restaurants and food purveyors continue to step up and donate their time, talents and good cooking to these causes.

I've attended a couple of these fund-raising events starring local chefs and restaurants in the past, and the usual recipe is this: Each restaurant has a booth or station. Diners move around to the various stations and sample tasting-size portions of one of the chef's specialty dishes, which range from appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts.

Often, there are silent auction items people can bid on. And after dinner, there's often a live auction where you can bid on dining packages offered by the chefs, or other goods and services.

These events are usually pricey — after all, someone has to put the "funds" in fund-raisers. But, it's a nice night out on the town and a chance to check out chefs and restaurants that you're not familiar with. And ticket prices here are relatively modest, compared to benefit dinners in other parts of the country.

Last week I received an invitation to Emeril Lagasse's benefit for Hurricane Katrina victims — "Carnivale Du Vin" — at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. Tickets were a mere $1,000 per person. (I had to send my regrets!)

Two local fund-raisers take place in the next two weeks:

• The Seventh Annual Taste of Salt Lake is Friday, 6:30 p.m., at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel. This event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Participating restaurants are Bubba's Firehouse BBQ Grill, Buca di Beppo, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, Olio Ristorante, Pier 49 San Francisco Sourdough Pizza, Rimini Coffee, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Spencer's for Steaks and Chops, Thaifoon, and Xaio Li.

Tickets are $75 per person and can be bought at 281-1886.

• The March of Dimes is hosting its 2005 Signature Chefs Auction on Nov. 10, 6-9:30 p.m., at the Salt Lake City Center Hilton.