This is very special evening for an important cause: cancer research at UCLA. Five top chefs will create culinary magic accompanied by award winning Far Niente Wines. None other than the entertaining Monty Hall will host the "Epicurean Evening". The evening will also feature a live auction of spectacular vacation, wine and restaurant packages.

Five of the nation’s top chefs will raise their whisks in the battle against cancer at "An Epicurean Evening," the renowned annual culinary extravaganza benefiting UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation. The date and time are Saturday, May 5 at 6 p.m. Held at the private hilltop estate of businessman Dennis Tito in Pacific Palisades, the four-course dinner and elaborate hors d’oeuvres will be created by master chefs Daniel Boulud of Daniel and Cafe Boulud in New York; Michel Cornu of Far Niente in Napa Valley; Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys in San Francisco; Julian Serrano of Picasso at Las Vegas’s Bellagio Hotel; and Sherry Yard of Spago Beverly Hills. Each chef will prepare one course, and, for the second consecutive year, Far Niente, the premium Napa Valley winery, is donating the wines for the evening. Monty Hall will serve as the Honorary Program Chair and Master of Ceremonies. American Airlines is the official airline sponsor of the event, which is presented by UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation.

This year’s once-in-a-lifetime dinner will mark the fifth "Epicurean Evening" that UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation has produced. Only 250 seats are available, making it one of the country’s hottest and most exclusive culinary tickets.

In addition to a sumptuous dinner, the evening will also feature a live auction of spectacular vacation, wine and restaurant packages. Five-star vacations to Paris, London, Italy, Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas will be on the auction block as well as a round of golf with UCLA head football coach Bob Toledo and hand-painted chefs jackets.

Under the guidance of co-chairs Julie Loshin, a Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation Board member, and Barbara Fairchild, editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit magazine (who coordinates the chefs’ participation), "An Epicurean Evening" has become the talk of the food world. Loshin, who formerly owned a catering business, signed on as chair four years ago, and Fairchild joined her as co-chair a year later after serving as the guest chef interviewer at Loshin’s first "Epicurean." Due, in part, to their dedicated efforts – as well as the generosity of the participating chefs, who donate their time and expertise – the event has raised over $ 2 million since its inception in 1996. This money funds vital cancer research at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"We are deeply grateful to have the support of these top chefs," said Fairchild, "it is, after all, their tremendous talents that put this event on the map. Each and every ‘Epicurean Evening’ has a unique flavor – literally and figuratively – thanks to them."

According to Loshin, "a small army of wait staff, sous chefs and parking attendants make the evening come together seamlessly." She and her dedicated volunteer committee coordinate the elaborate details of the event, including designing the invitations, building a state-of-the-art field kitchen for the chefs, decorating the dinner tent and selecting place settings, flowers, entertainment, auction displays and much more.

For the upcoming "Epicurean Evening," hors d’oeuvres will be prepared by Far Niente’s Cornu; the first course by Fleur de Lys’s Keller; the second course by Picasso’s Serrano; the main course by Boulud; and Spago’s Sheri Yard will create dessert.

UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center, established in 1976, is one of only 37 cancer centers nationwide to be designated "comprehensive" by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). With more than 40 disciplines represented, the Jonsson Cancer Center adheres to the NCI’s highest standards of excellence in the full spectrum of patient care, basic and clinical research, cancer prevention and control research and professional and public education. Close collaboration between researchers and physicians results in rapid "translation" of scientific discoveries into improved cancer detection, prevention and treatment for patients. UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center has established an international reputation for developing new cancer therapies, providing the best in experimental and traditional treatments, and expertly guiding and training the next generation of medical researchers.

Tickets to "An Epicurean Evening" are $1,250 per person. For tickets and information, please call Polly Diaz at (310) 794-7643.

"AN EPICUREAN EVENING"

HISTORY OF CHEFS’ PARTICIPATION

1996 TO PRESENT

Daniel Boulud Daniel and Cafe Boulud, New York

Michel Cornu Far Niente, Napa Valley

Hubert Keller Fleur de Lys, San Francisco;

Julian Serrano Picasso at Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas

Sherry Yard Spago Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills

Jean-Pierre Bosc & Silvio De Mori Café des Artistes and Mimosa

Los Angeles

Michael Mina Aqua

San Francisco

François Payard Payard Patisserie and Bistro

New York City

Charlie Trotter Charlie Trotter’s

Chicago

Michael McCarty & Andrew Pastore Michael’s

Santa Monica.

Lidia Matticchio Bastianich & Fortunato Nicotra Felidia Ristorante, New York City

Jeff Gimmel Michael’s New York, New York City

Mark Peel & Nancy Silverton Campanile and La Brea Bakery,

Los Angeles

Allen Susser Chef Allen’s Restaurant, North Miami Beach North Miami Beach

Alan Wong Alan Wong’s,

Honolulu, Hawaii

Sang Yoon Michael’s Santa Monica

Santa Monica, Calif.

Gary Clauson Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles

Roy Brieman The Restaurant at Meadowood

Napa Valley

Gilles Epie L’Orangerie

Los Angeles

Gerard Thompson Stonehouse Restaurant

San Ysidro