L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand

J. Ritz

Just when fatigue and perhaps even some cynicism about the year's parade of splashy food events starts to set in, along comes along a fundraiser with enough heart, spirit and dynamite food made by superstar chefs to vanquish any disenchantment. Even the sun came out at the last minute for the second L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade benefit at the Culver Studios yesterday. Hosts Suzanne Goin, David Lentz and Caroline Styne with their crew of entertainment boldfaced names and coterie of vintner and kitchen pro friends -- many of whom flew in from around the country -- had their priorities straight.

This party wasn't about nibbling on bites while a shiny new model car sits on display. And in the end, despite the ridiculously sloppy grass and mud (most useful item: galoshes), the benefit for Alex's Lemonade Stand foundation to battle childhood cancer got stunning L.A. post-rain, almost lemonade-worthy weather.

Lentz, Goin and Styne, with emcee Jimmy Kimmel and Alex's parents, Liz and Jay Scott.

The organization was founded in 2000 by four-year-old neuroblastoma patient Alex Scott who held a lemonade stand in Connecticut to raise money for doctors to help other kids with cancer. When a private dinner for 12 cooked by Goin and her pals Alice Waters, Nancy Silverton, Sherry Yard and Giada de Laurentiis with wines from Cold Heaven Cellars and Colgin Cellars, plus 2000 Dom, goes for over $60,000 at live auction, clearly this crowd is dedicated to the food and the cause.

Turn the page for more photos of Sunday's event.