The Baptist Health Foundation put guests in control of its second annual Pineapple Sauté and Sip, sponsored by the Radiology Associates of South Florida, at the Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove on Friday night. The interactive fund-raising gala saw more than 300 guests prepare their own dinners at their tables while following the directions of a professional chef on stage.
“Baptist did this same dinner years ago [as part of the Miami Wine Festival] but wanted to take a break for a few years to separate from the other wine events in the city,” said the foundation's senior event strategist, Lori Elsbree. “We brought it back last year to get it going in another direction by benefiting women’s breast cancer and health.”
Following a 90-minute cocktail reception and silent auction, Baptist organizers passed out drumsticks and maracas for guests to beat and play as they walked into the ballroom. C.E.O. of Baptist Outpatient Services Patricia Rosello introduced a 10-minute video about the center and recognized its doctors before the cooking began.
The Ritz provided a toque and apron at each of the place settings, while waiters brought the ingredients for each course to the tables—along with bowls, pans, and cooking utensils—one course at a time. Baptist intended to have a chef from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school assist each table, but due to a scheduling miscommunication between the school, chefs involved with the event, and the foundation, the sous chefs did not attend. The hotel's chefs stepped in instead, roving the ballroom and assisting guests as needed. (The school did not want to comment on the glitch, though it has signed on to participate next year.)
Chef Jaques Van Staden, vice president of food and beverage at Celebrity Cruises—a headlining sponsor—led the preparation of each course from the main stage in the center of ballroom. The meal consisted of Asian-style tuna sashimi served with cucumber slaw and mango coulis, a New Orleans chop-chop salad, and Italian beef scaloppini.
While making the pineapple flambé dessert (a nod to the foundation’s pineapple symbol), skillet fires popped up around the ballroom when guests added the rum for the sauce to the pan. Though fire is part of the dessert’s preparation, some waiters were wary of the scene, knowing the amount of wine that had been consumed by those cooking.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Florida and 22 Core Construction also sponsored the event, which raised more than $100,000 for the new Baptist Health Breast Center opening in June.
Correction: The amount of money raised from the event, including the previous amount reported for the auctions, has been clarified.
