Guests: Jeannie Bewley, owner of Jeannie’s Jewelry Creations; Kristina Richardson, a high school English teacher; Debbie Gabelich, CEO of the nonprofit Hope Productions Foundation; Arleen Planas, the foundation’s director; Elise Bauer, the blogger behind Simply Recipes (elise.com/recipes)
Where: Hawks, Quarry Ponds Town Center, 5530 Douglas Blvd., Suite 110, Granite Bay; (916) 791-6200;
hawksrestaurant.com
Benefiting organizations: Sacramento Theatre Company and Make-A-Wish Foundation
1-second review: Fantastic food, exceptional company: That was Jeannie Bewley’s
opinion, shared by all.
Ambiance: Comfortable, warm, friendly, open yet intimate
Best dishes: Everything was delish, but our favorites were the addictive green-bean beignets; ahi tuna tartare with preserved lemon; crispy duck confit with quinoa; hanger steak with Black River blue cheese; maple-brined pulled pork sandwich; panna cotta; freshly baked cookies; and warm apple tart.
Wine time: Diva Gayla Mace performed wine duty (assisted by Diva Bernice Hagen), choosing Patassy Vineyard 2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Ortman Family Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay. Diva Peg Tomlinson-Poswall called the Patassy “the best Pinot ever.”
Extras: Time was of the essence on lunch day—several of us had midafternoon activities that we couldn’t miss. Server Kristi Warren rose to the challenge and served 11 dishes and seven desserts with alacrity and professionalism. Although she couldn’t fasten the bottom button on her chef’s coat, proprietor and mother-to-be Molly Hawk came out to say hello. By this time, her daughter (with husband and partner Michael Fagnoni) will have made her arrival. Will she follow her parents into chefdom or become a ballet dancer? Only time will tell.
Quote of the day: “Windex can cure everything,” said Arleen Planas. She learned that from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Chatter: The Windex advice came out after Kristina Richardson described a folk cure to take the zing out of a jellyfish sting. She chose vinegar, not the other liquid recommended. At the other end of the table, lunchers had a serious discussion about exercise and working on underarm flab, which one son (no names, please) calls his mom’s “tomatoes.”
The Dining Divas—Gloria Glyer, Paulette Bruce, Bernice Hagen, Joan Leineke, Gayla Mace and Peg Tomlinson-Poswall—have been wining and dining together since 1993. Every month, they lunch at an area restaurant, taking as their guests people who placed winning bids at charity events. To date, they have raised more than $290,000 for local charities and nonprofits.
