Passport to Dining an adventure in taste in Tahoe

For those craving some culinary adventure, the Passport to Dining event last week at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach was just the ticket. Close to 30 food, wine and refreshment stations showcased their fare for more than 350 gastronomically adventurous Passport to Dining ticket holders. The diversity of outstanding dishes offered at the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe fundraiser ran the gamut from sushi to pizza to filet with sweetbreads, to jumbo ice cream waffle cones (one of my favorites from Mourelatos' Cable Car Ice Cream in Tahoe Vista) to pork sliders with French fried onions.

Many agreed this year's annual event offered the best food and beverages ever with top shelf local restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries participating. Those included Moody's Bistro, Caliente!, Pacific Crest, Bella Affair, Buckbean Brewing, CB's Pizza and Grill, Conrad's Steaks Chops and Seafood, Drunken Monkey, El Sancho Taqueria, Jason's Beachside Grill, Lakeside Pizza, Lanza's, Las Panchitas, Mt. Tallac Brewing, Soupa, Steamers Beachside Oven & Bar, Twin Peaks Catering, Fifty Fifty Brewing, Lucchesi Vineyards, Sobon Estates Family Wines and PlumpJack's.

Organizers were still tallying the final numbers at press time, but it is estimated the event raised $10,000. Proceeds from the event will benefit both the North Tahoe Business Association and the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe. Kudos to NTBA Executive Director Cheri Sprenger and NTBA promotions committee chair Renee Deinken and committee members who worked hard on the successful event.

Some of those savoring and sampling at the passport to dining adventure were Heidi and Peter Fain, Gary Davis, Julie and David Conover, Jan Colyer, Penny and NLTRA CEO Steve Teshara, Kym Fabel, Susan O'Brien, Diane and Frank Rosman, Ruth and Larry Schnabel, Rob Weston and Sally Taylor, Carol Savary, Patty and Gary Boxeth, Ray Taylor, Chrisi Donovan, Jeanette Reynolds, Janet Bella, Theresa May Duggan, Sarah and Keith Fields, Meg Raymore, Stephanie Hiemstra, Zunee Zrno, Sheri and Bruce Pohle, Dave Ferrari, Sue and Larry Kyler, Roseann and Glen Parker, Curt Wegener, Mark Estee and girlfriend Aly Digesti, Tyler Gaffaney, Lesley Bruening, Todd Willard, Pam Lefrancois, Amanda and Brian Helm, Katie Mize, Louise and Bill Jensen, and NTBA staff members Mandy Lua and Sue Jackson.

Tidbit

G.O. Parsons, a 2000 NTHS graduate and son of Patrice Parsons of Cambria and George Parsons of Tahoe City, is plugging away in the City of Angels trying to make a name for himself in the world of acting. He will appear in “Criminal Minds,” which will air Nov. 4 at 9 p.m. on CBS. The episode is titled “The Eyes Have It.” He is a victim and will be lying on the morgue slab in the beginning of the show, but says if it isn't cut, the fight scene was a blast. He can also be seen in a series of Bud Light ads during NFL televised games — appearing in the peanut gallery (wearing a striped sweater) for products such as foozies, groilers, etc., and also in Kentucky Fried Chicken grilled chicken ads — he says “Wednesdays.”