Last night, legendary retailer Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills, teamed up with St. Vincent Meals on Wheels and Miss Lilly’s Trading Company for a festive gathering filled with food, friends and a store full of the most exquisite beauty and fashion. The evening started off with a celebratory VIP reception featuring culinary temptations prepared by several Los Angeles chefs including Mark Gold of Eva, Alex Becker of Nobu, and Michael Fiorelli of mar’sel at Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes. They, along with nearly 40 other L.A. chefs are featured in the recently released Cart For A Cause Cookbook, whose sales benefit St. Vincent Meals on Wheels
I was honored to be an official Saks Fifth Avenue guest blogger, and although I was completely in my happy place…shopping couture, sipping cocktails, sharing conversation and sampling cuisine, what made the evening all the more sweet and special, was that it was to support two extremely important causes that I greatly believe in. During the event, Saks donated a portion of its proceeds to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, the country’s largest, privately funded senior nutrition program, as well as to Miss Lilly’s Trading Company for their pet program, which provides much-needed food for seniors’ pets.
FENDI Python Peep Toes at SAKS
Pisco Porton w/Serrano Chili, Grand Marnier, Star Anise, Pineapple
Chef Mark Gold's Tofu with Caviar
Guests were treated to hypnotic, hip-shaking DJ beats and specialty holiday cocktails by Pisco Portón, alongside a coterie of fanciful “specialists,” including a lipstick reader, glitter tattoo artist, a renowned psychic and more. Miss Lilly’s Trading Company also offered their beautiful cookie gift tins as well as their exclusive polo and tennis shirts, just for this special evening. Junk Food Clothing was also in attendance with the first ever QR code t-shirt which supports feeding with fashion.
Christina Rushing (Saks), Chef Mark Gold, Mika Takeuchi
Bonnie Star Jewely at SAKS
“We’re passionate about supporting St. Vincent Meals on Wheels and the vital work they do on behalf of the hungry and homebound in our community. The partnership between Saks and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels underscores the message that during this celebratory time of year, people have the opportunity to be generous while enjoying their holiday shopping, stated Saks Fifth Avenue Vice President, General Manager John Cruz.
Foie Gras Macarons by Chef Michael Fiorelli
Fashion for a Great Cause - The Best!
Jimmy Choo iPad Case at SAKS - Drool!
“We are delighted to partner again with Saks to address senior hunger, proving once more that Fashion Feeds. We’re also very grateful for the support of the Cart For A Cause Cookbook chefs during this season of giving and celebration and thrilled to have some of them join us at Saks,” noted St. Vincent Meals on Wheels Foundation Executive Director Daryl Twerdahl.
I say cheers and a very happy holiday season to that!
Even if you couldn’t be there in person, you could still join the conversation, by supporting your local Meals on Wheels, or by purchasing a Cart for a Cause Cookbook.
For more Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels event photos (which I’ll be adding later today), visit our Food Fashionista Facebook Page.
More info on the generous people involved:
St. Vincent Meals On Wheels, the largest privately-funded organization of its kind in the country, serves over 4,700 meals a day, 365 days a year. The meals are prepared daily in the 16,000 square foot, state-of-the-art kitchen located at the Saint Vincent Medical Center Campus. Annually, over 1.1 million meals are prepared and delivered to people in Los Angeles, including homebound senior citizens, disabled and terminally ill patients and homeless adults and children.
Miss Lilly’s Trading Company merges founder Bebe Flynn’s passions for baking, animal rights advocacy and entrepreneurism. Bebe learned while volunteering with St. Vincent Meals on Wheels that 80% of seniors who own pets share their meals with them, often feeding their pets before themselves. A portion of Miss Lilly’s proceeds provides seniors with food for their pets. Miss Lilly herself is a King Charles Spaniel mix, whom Bebe rescued and loves so much that she decided to name her company after her. In addition to Saks Fifth Avenue, Miss Lilly’s cookies are available at Whole Foods and Bristol Farms, among other upscale retailers. Miss Lilly’s also sponsors polo teams and their polo and tennis shirts will be on sale at SAKS in limited quantities.
Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s preeminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 46 full-line stores in 22 states, 5 licensed stores in the Middle East and 2 licensed stores in Mexico City, 57 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saks.com, the company’s online store.