Michael Fiorelli and Rebecca Merhej with their team from Love & Salt at Alex’s Lemonade (Elise Thompson)
We have just had two straight weekends of food events, and it’s understandable that they might all seem to run together. But Alex’s Lemonade has a special place in our hearts. This annual event, now in its 9th year, carries on the spirit of Alexandria “Alex” Scott, a little girl with cancer whose front yard lemonade stand grew into a foundation that raised over a million dollars during her lifetime.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) now hosts food events around the country in her name. LA Loves Alex‘s Lemonade is one of the biggies, with world-renowned chefs and mixologists coming together to raise money for children’s cancer research, and to provide support to families affected by childhood cancer. To date, LA Loves Alex’s has earned more than $5.8 million dollars for the charity.
This year, LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade will be held Saturday, September 8, 2018, from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on UCLA’s Royce Quad. James Beard Foundation award-winners Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne join David Lentz every year to host the event and invite chef friends to pitch in.
Some of our favorites among the participating chefs are locals Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo (Animal Restaurant Group) Nancy Silverton (Mozza Restaurant Group) Zoe Nathan (Huckleberry) Bryant Ng (Cassia) Michael Fiorelli (Love & Salt) Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station) Michael Cimarusti (Providence) Neal Fraser (Redbird) Evan Funke (Felix Trattoria) Steve Samson (Rossoblu) Josiah Citrin (Melisse) Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill) Suzanne Tracht (Jar) Sherry Yard (IPIC Group) Timothy Hollingsworth (Otium) Bruce Kalman (Union) and David LeFevre (Manhattan Beach Post), plus nationally-acclaimed chefs including Giada De Laurentis (Las Vegas – Giada) Donald Link (New Orleans – Herbsaint), Nancy Oakes (San Francisco – Boulevard) and Jonathan Sundstrom (Seattle – Lark), and more.
In addition to the food, wine, and cocktails, there will be children’s activities, as well as silent and live auctions. Alex’s Lemonade has a special family feel. Chefs bring their own kids, guests are encouraged to bring theirs for free (12 and under), and some of the children benefitting from the charity are also invited, making it feel like one big block party. Get into the groove by wearing yellow and blue. Lemon patterns get you bonus points for enthusiasm.
General Admission tickets are $195, Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @LALovesAlexs
