Philanthropy Never Tasted This Good

Alaskan Brewing Co., Comme Ça pair up for beer dinner to support plastic-free oceans and to help victims of the Southern California wildfires

The Alaskan Brewing Co. is pairing up with newly opened Comme Ça Restaurant to provide a night of great food, great beer and great works. The four-course fundraiser was created in support of extreme athlete Tom Jones’ ambitious and solitary journey to combat plastic pollution in our oceans. However, when organizers learned of the Southern California wildfires, they immediately moved to donate half of the evening’s proceeds to the American Red Cross to aid victims of the Southern California wildfires.
Jones is paddling the entire 1,250-mile California coastline on a 12-foot paddleboard to raise awareness about plastic pollution in our oceans and to raise money to combat the problem for the aptly named California Paddle 2007. That’s where Alaskan Brewing Co. came in. The award-winning craft brewery is committing 1% of all proceeds from its new Alaskan IPA to help preserve the Pacific Ocean and its coastlines in an initiative called the Coastal CODE (Clean Oceans Depend on Everyone). California Paddle 2007 was one of the first Coastal CODE grant recipients.

Comme Ça head chef David Myers, renowned for co-founding Hollywood hotspot Sona, didn’t hesitate for a minute when Alaskan Brewing approached him about co-sponsoring a beer dinner at his new restaurant, Comme Ça, to raise money for California Paddle 2007. As an avid surfer, Myers cares deeply about the ocean resource. As a Californian, he cares deeply about those who have been affected by the wildfires. Myers is helping in the best way he knows how—by preparing a sublime menu that will satisfy the demands of the palate as well as those of the heart. The menu, which includes wild Alaskan salmon and beef bourguignon, will be paired with award-winning Alaskan beer.

The dinner will be a celebration of Tom Jones’ completion of his world record-breaking paddling expedition, which began Aug. 7 near Crescent City. The $125-per-person dinner is being held to raise money to support the California Paddle 2007 and its campaign for a plastic-free ocean, as well as the American Red Cross and its California Wildfires Fund. Joining Jones will be Alaskan Brewing Co-founder and Brewmaster Geoff Larson.

“We believe that it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect our ocean resource, and we thought we could make it easy, tasty and fun with a fundraising beer dinner,” Larson said. “When we heard about the fires, we immediately thought, ‘How can we help?’ It was a quick and unanimous decision to dedicate half of the money we raise at the beer dinner to help those affected by the fires.”

To make a reservation for the fundraising beer dinner, call Comme Ça at 323-782-1104.

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 5, 2007

TIME: Reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Comme Ça Restaurant, 8479 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles

COST: $125 per person

WHY: To raise money to support California Paddle 2007 and efforts to combat plastic pollution in the ocean, and to support the American Red Cross disaster relief fund for the Southern California Wildfires

MENU:
Appetizers: Accompanied with Alaskan Amber
1st course: Mushroom Risotto, Duck Confit, Maitake Mushrooms accompanied with Alaskan Winter Ale
2nd course: Wild Alaskan Salmon, Roasted Endive, Gnocchi Parisienne accompanied with Alaskan IPA
3rd course: Paleron of Beef Bourguignon, Horseradish Pomme Puree, Braised Carrots accompanied with Alaskan Stout
4th course (dessert): Brioche Bread Pudding with Raspberries accompanied with Alaskan Smoked Porter