Crustacean’s booth at the 40th Annual PPLA Food Fare
Pink’s hot dogs. Pie Holes. Spicy tuna hand rolls from Takami Sushi. Crustacean Beverly Hills’ famous garlic noodles. They were some of the many ingredients that made the 40th annual Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Food Fare, held at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar March 7 a smashing success.
The event raised $1.3 million that helps fund vital healthcare and education programs at 19 health centers throughout Los Angeles County that serve nearly 250,000 people.
Felicity Huffman at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’ 40th Anniversary Food Fare Event & Fundraiser
Several thousand guests attended daytime and evening sessions to support the organization, including Felicity Huffman, Ali Larter, Fred Armisen, KaDee Strickland, PPLA CEO and president Sue Dunlap and Natasha Rothwell.
Honoree Helene An at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’ 40th Anniversary Food Fare Event & Fundraiser
This year’s event honored longtime PPLA supporter chef Helene An, who with her family is credited with introducing Americans to Vietnamese cuisine through their restaurants including Crustacean, Tiato, ANQI by House of An and An Catering.
As guests entered the hangar, they were greeted by a lavish booth set up by Crustacean and offering tastes of the restaurant’s top menu items, including its addictive garlic noodles.
Inside, dozens of booths from the LA area’s top restaurants including Otium, Rao’s Hollywood, The Lobster, Baltaire, A.O.C. and BOA Steakhouse Santa Monica served up select specialties.
There were a wide variety of choices to quench thirst, ranging from pressed juice to beer to coffee, wine and whiskey from vendors including Angel City Brewery, Beckmen Vineyards, Pasquini Coffee, Kikori Whiskey, Blagden and Suja Juice.
Overall, there were hundreds of gourmet food and drink samples as well as a wine auction and a silent auction of coveted items including tickets to shows and sporting events, private dinners and hotel stays.
The popular Pie Holes booth
That’s why Food Fare is a highly anticipated event every year, one that has grown exponentially from its humble but ambitious beginnings in 1979 with a demonstration from acclaimed chef Julia Child.
“Food Fare reaching its 40th year is a huge milestone and statement about the vital role of Planned Parenthood health centers and education programs in communities throughout Los Angeles County,” Dunlap said. “I’m always so inspired by the dedication of our volunteers who organize this spectacular affair each year. I’m proud to be part of an event that brings together supporters of women’s health while showcasing Los Angeles’ diverse and vibrant food communities.”
Funds are also raised from purchases at vendors who set up shop and donate a portion of their sales to Planned Parenthood. On hand were purveyors of jewelry, clothing, accessories and shoes in a unique shopping experience– all for a good cause.
