Our Society moves into its second 50 years of history with this new season of fine dining, great wines, and deepening friendships. Our too infrequent gatherings are special to me, for they afford the opportunity to communicate with friends at leisure, whilst enjoying the favors (and flavors) of a good table.

Although the space was a wee bit tight and the kitchen's efforts somewhat sporadic, our 50th Anniversary celebration at Valentino Santa Monica last November will remain a highlight for many of us for many years to come. It's legitimately amazing that nearly one fifth of our membership (9 of 50 members) had been enjoying the Pasadena Wine & Food Society for 25 years or more. And it was especially gratifying that Bob Farmer and John Penido were awarded the International Wine & Food Society's Andre Simon Bronze Medal that evening. Events Chairman Chuck Livingstone earned his huzzahs for putting together the busy night's program.

The balance of the season was equally pleasurable. Co-Chairmen Dick Patton and Tom Murray presented a very well-received Italian evening at Los Angeles' La Terza in early February. The menu (especially the "branzino al vapore") was a hit, and the food pairing of wines from Germany, France, and the US, as well as Italy, worked very well. In April, we visited the “new” Spago Beverly Hills, the restaurant which proprietor Wolfgang Puck moved from Hollywood some 7 years before. I chaired a dinner which featured, among many fine dishes, sautéed langoustines in a curry sauce and, later, a Pesquera Reserva Especiale 1994 from Spain paired with a delicious flat-iron steak course. Wolfgang, himself, came by after dessert to say hello to the group. The season concluded with an informal BYOB event at Celestino in Pasadena, organized by Chuck Livingstone. I was traveling in England and missed the dinner, but all the reports pointed to another grand evening of good PWFS fellowship.

This current season will begin on the 14th of November at LA's downtown Jonathan Club. Dinner Chairman and inveterate hunter Fritz Seitz is organizing a German game dinner with a line-up of all-German wines. The tasting dinner was excellent and bodes well for the actual event. In February 2006, Don Mike Anthony and Bob Bell will co-chair our first dinner of the new year. They've been doing concerted wining and dining research, and word has it that they are including an old favorite, LA's Water Grill, among their candidates. Come April 2006, Tim Barz and Chuck Greaves will co-chair an event at a yet-to-be-determined venue. We'll conclude the season in May with a Spouses & Odd-Lots dinner, one of my favorite events. (I just love to see how many odd lots show up with their wives each year.)

After six years as president of this wonderful body of friends, I will be stepping aside. It's time for some fresh leadership to imprint some new ideas and directions onto the Society's long legacy. With the Board's permission, I hope to stay on "Board" for awhile as a past-president. I'll try not to interfere too much, though.

Dave Felton
President
November 2005