Spotlight on Conservation: Palos Verdes Pastoral Celebration of Go Wild For the Peninsula
On October 15, the Conservancy gathered together with 240 special guests for the highly anticipated Palos Verdes Pastoral: Garden-to-Table Dining Experience. The evening celebrated the immense success of the Go Wild for the Peninsula campaign, raising the funds needed to acquire and restore land in the 96-acre wildlife corridor, connecting the shoreline to now 1,500 acres of preserved land, ensuring our rare and endangered species populations will retain their natural habitats forever.
Guests immersed themselves in the stunning coastal landscape backlit by the sunset as they indulged in an unforgettable dining experience featuring an exclusive sustainable, low carbon footprint menu created by Executive Chef Andrew Vaughan. The al fresco seating allowed guests to engage with others who also appreciate the peninsula’s precious habitats, trails, and open spaces which the Conservancy is helping to preserve for generations to come.
The evening began with a vibrant “Golden Hour” Signature Cocktail made with OTACA Plata Tequila at the reception with a Botanical Elixir tasting by Hummingbird Heart Co., a botanic plant display by Event Co-Chair Diana Heffernan-Schrader for Palos Verdes School Gardens, and a wellness and healing display by Terranea Spa with Spa Instructor Yuka Obayashi. A special moment from the spa gave guests inspiration for celebrating nature that evening.
The exclusive menu by Terranea Executive Chef Andrew Vaughan featured Santa Monica Seafood sustainable appetizers followed by a dinner featuring Short Rib Wellington, Buckwheat Crust, Wild Sage Jus and Superior Seafood Sea Bass, Black Walnut Wild Rice, Sea Urchin Sauce. The menu was paired with amazing wines including a Riboli Family Estates Rutherford, a Reserve Catalina View Chardonnay, a sustainably-crafted Cambria Estates Pinot Noir and a selection from Winebow Fine Wine and Spirits.
The occasion is made possible by Terranea Resort as the presenting sponsor and Southbay Magazine as the media sponsor. Major supporters include: Silver & Sage Steward William and Paige Hadley, Coastal Contributors Bruce Biesman-Simons & Hale Field, Becky Cool, The Jupiter 360 Foundation, Ocean Bluff Benefactors Palos Verdes School Gardens, Carolynn and Andy Petru, Jim & Diane Staes, Grassland Guardians Bill & Barb Ailor, Craig & Susan Cooning, Rob Kautz & Danise Halloway, Steven Hansen, Larry & Nancy Pasquali, Bruce & Randy Ross, Bill & Gina Whittlesey and Corporate Sponsors California Water Service, Little Company of Mary, Point Vicente Animal Hospital, Malaga Bank, and Room & Board.
Photos by Tony LaBruno
