American Wine and Food Festival's Red Hot party at the Red Seven restaurant in the Design Center was too rocking for just one post. Usually as an event hits its last hour, things start to wind down, but this party was just getting revved up. Hors d' Ouvres were passed with the same regularity, fresh steaks were thrown on the grill, and even cigars made a quick turn around the patio. The event, which was a benefit for Meals on Wheels programs of Los Angeles, was not only a good deed, but a good time.

Double shakers at the Leblon Cachaça bar (Elise Thompson)

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The table at Craft had the genius to begin handing out muffins, wrapped and ready to go. It not only made them fresh and transportable for them, it worked as either a dessert or a party favor. There was something especially delicious in them - tons of butter, or maybe crack. When a woman passed by and sniped, "Oh, just muffins?" I replied, "They're not just muffins. These are the muffins of the gods. Or maybe the vodka said that. I'm not sure who was doing the talking by this time.

The event was practically seamless. At the very end of the evening, when it was time to pack up, the hamburgers from 8oz Burger Bar ran out, and Cut had just a moment of panic. From where we were sitting, I heard one of Cut's chef's ask incredulously, "We're out of forks? are you kidding me? What are we supposed to do with all these steaks?"
Bob joked, "How much do you want for them?"
The chef said, "If you have a fork, they're yours."

Well, I had a fork. Yoink! I stabbed the smallest, squarest steak that seemed like it would fit on my little dessert plate. Then I went over to the coffee steak table and borrowed a bunch of forks and plates for Cut. In that order.

This morning, I woke up and started digging around in my purse for my Tom Colicchio muffin. It was strangely absent. I asked Bob, "Did you eat my Tom Colicchio muffin?
He looked back guiltily and offered to run to Porto's. But even Porto's just wasn't the same.

Damn you, Tom Collichio!