Beverly Hills ~ Executive Pastry Chef, Sherry Yard of Spago was host to an evening of fundraising for the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) on Wednesday evening, November 10th.  Founder, cookbook author and culinary instructor Richard Grausman was on hand to lead the festivities which drew a celebrity crowd including actor Peter Boyle, Andy Harris, producer of the "Mario Martinoli Restaurant Show", Christine Splichal of Patina Group, Executive Food Editor Kristine Kidd of Bon Appetit magazine, Carl Schuster, President of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Executive Chef Patina Group Actavio Becerra and Barbara Lazaroff.

Richard Grausman with C-CAP graduate students (left to right) Raphael Perezchica (Bel Air Hotel), Ivan Marquez (Spago), Jenny Macias (Four Seasons Hotel), Raymond Alvarez (Ciudad)

Guests were welcomed with a reception featuring the wines of Lincourt Vineyards and Foley Estates and enjoyed a tasting variety of Wolfgang Puck's famed gourmet pizzas.  C-CAP Board of Trustees member, Georgia Mercer, emceed the event and welcomed four recent C-CAP graduates on stage to tell their story.  One recent graduate, Raymond Alvarez, who now works for the Border Grill, stated, "C-CAP offered priceless experience and changed my life by giving me a head start on my competition."  Also on hand were several C-CAP mentors and teachers from the Four Seasons, Los Angeles Unified School District and Marlene Canter of the Los Angeles Board of Education.  Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a sampling of C-CAP mentor Sherry Yard's Spago dessert delights including chocolate cupcakes, mandolins and Spago baked cookies.

Richard Grausman, President/Founder of C-CAP with EXecutive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard (Spago) and Executive Pastry Chef Donald Wressel (Four Seasons Hotel)

Launched in New York in 1990, C-CAP is a non-profit organization specializing in the provision and promotion of foodservice and hospitality career opportunities for underserved youth through culinary arts education and jobs.  C-CAP expanded to Los Angeles in 1994 and has since awarded over 199 scholarships totaling $1.8 million to students in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  Nationwide, C-CAP offers "Cooking Competitions for Scholarships", student / teacher training, mentoring by chefs and industry professionals, college and career counseling, job training and placement and has awarded $13 million in post-secondary school scholarships to over 1,500 students.

Barbra Lazaroff (Spago), Peter Boyle ("Everybody Loves Raymond")

To offer equipment, ingredient or other donations, contact C-CAP online at www.ccapinc.org

Georgia Mercer and Guest

Richard Grausman and Guest

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