THE CROWD:Black-tie event a toast to gastronomes

In a fast-food, fast-paced world, a dining experience with the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs is like a time trip into a world long past.

In Newport Beach recently, the woman in charge of the Chaine, Irene Mathews, formally referred to as the Bailli or president of the organization, invited board members and friends to a very fine and formal dinner at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort.

The evening in June inducted new gastronomes into this society of people intent on becoming experts in the world of food and wine.

The elegant Irene Mathews and her husband William Mathews presided over a dining experience that began in the Grill Room of the Bay Club Hotel with a selection of hors d’oeuvres accompanied by a Bellavista Cuvee Francia Corta.

Dinner consisted of six courses plus dessert. It began with Maine lobster, followed by Pacific Hama Hama oysters, then a seared foie gras on Hawaiian mango carpaccio. Next came Georgia quail breast and Colorado veal tenderloin with morel Louisiana crawfish sauce. Finally, a trio of American cheeses and then dessert, which was actually the eighth course of the evening: a chocolate Oregon apricot torte.

International wines were paired with each course. Outstanding wine narrations as well as selections were made by the Balboa Bay Club’s Dieter Hissin. Hissin was joined by Chaine member John Cook, vice echanson of the organization, and William Mathews.

Irene Mathews introduced Henry Schielein, president and chief operating officer of the Balboa Bay Club, who has a worldwide reputation as a food and wine expert. Schielein frequently jets to Europe and Asia for dinner meetings to promote the work of various culinary societies with which he is associated.

On this night, Schielein welcomed new members to the Newport Beach Bailliage, including Lido Isle’s Joan Riach, Patricia Marshall of Newport Coast, Tia Anderson and Benjamin Du.

Special recognition was paid to Orange County chef Josef Lagader and his kitchen and dining-room staff for the remarkable preparation and service that made the evening another special event in the history of the Chaine.

In the elegant black-tie crowd were Dick and Pat Allen, Zee Allred and Drago Gligic, Loretta Haugen, Robert and Ruth Ann Burns, Larry and Dee Higby, Ellie and Mike Gordon, Martin and Heather Klein, William and Pat Podlich, and David and Lynne Webb.

Also participating in the excitement were David and Mary Kaye Ashkenaze, Jerry Harrington, Robert and Mimi Holcomb, Larry and Connie Hull, Howard Hull and Darlene Hayes, Ed and Kimberly Prado, Ron and Christine Prosser, Dennis and Robin Walsh, David and Debra Weinberg, Liza Hissin, Carmela Du, Heather Cook and Carol Schielein.