Capitol File - Hollywood & Vine
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CEVICHE WINE BAR hosted a special chef’s reception dinner on April 24 to kick off the Creative Coalition’s 2008 convention activities. And while the day’s agenda may have been of a serious nature, the evening was for pleasure—the perfect mix of Hollywood and wine. Guests included several celebrity Coalition leaders: Wings’ Tim Daly, NCIS and Dumb and Dumber’s Lauren Holly, Judging Amy’s Tyne Daly, ER’s Laura Innes, O Brother Where Art Thou’s Tim Blake Nelson, Friday Night Lights’ Connie Britton, Just Shoot Me’s Wendie Malick, and The West Wing’s Richard Schiff. There was a mix of behind-the-scenes power players, such as MPAA chairman Dan Glickman, writer and producer Tom Fontana, Nuclear Energy Institute political director Hannah Simone, Madison Group partner Marcus Mason, and the director of government and corporate relations at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Andrew Kaplan. And while the guest list was buttoned-up, the free-flowing wine fountains lightened the ambience. Ceviche recently unveiled its enomatic machine, a fully automated wine-preservation system that dispenses wine via a wine debit card. Each guest was given a $100 card to select any combination of the 16 red and eight white wines.
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| “The enomatic is a fun, interactive way to taste wine with friends,” explains Ceviche owner Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld. “It’s like a toy for adults.” And play they did. Wendie Malick, previously acquainted with the self-serve contraption, graciously offered fellow guests pointers on how to use their cards to sample the various Spanish and South American wines. Favorites of the night included the rosé and the Cabernet. Not to be upstaged by the wine, Ceviche executive chef Ismael Otarola developed a special menu featuring a savory selection of cheese and charcuterie platters, ceviche samplers, and Latin American tapas. As is so often the case, good food and wine inspired good conversation. Table talk was predictably political, as guests speculated as to which Democratic candidate would be the last one standing. Conversation also focused on the then-upcoming White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner as well as previous dinners. Some guests mused over the rumored celebrity guest list—Heidi and Spencer? This prompted further discussion as to how celebrities came to be included in the event in the first place. |
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The answer—People magazine invited Fawn Hall in 1987, paving the way for an evening that has since become a full-blown red-carpet event. Meanwhile, back at this party, some were more outspoken about their political plans than others. Tim Daly was particularly vociferous about backing a candidate who made supporting the arts part of his platform, whereas some were tightlipped regarding how they’ll cast their vote come November. Laura Innes and Lauren Holly were overheard cornering Andrew Kaplan about which candidate he would support — information he kept to himself. |
Additional reporting by Robin Bronk.
The Creative Coalition is a national arts advocacy
group dedicated to improving funding and support
for arts, education, and the humanities. Visit
thecreativecoalition.org.
Ceviche Wine Bar, 2404 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
202-333-3877; latinconcepts.com/cevichegloverpark.
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CHEF ISMAEL OTAROLA’S
Cheese Selection
Manchego:
Havarti Dill:
Queso de Cabra:
Blue Fourme d’Ambert:
Smoked Gouda:
Charcuterie
Jamón Serrano:
Bresaola:
Lomo Español:
Ceviche de Camarones
Ceviche de Pescado al Ají Limo
Ceviche Mixto
Marinated olives
Mediterranean Platter
Mini Sorullitos de Maíz y Queso |
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