Dining By Design Pre-Event at Gump’s October 22, 2009

Barbara and I have been on the steering committee for Dining by Design in San Francisco for the last couple of years. We have become quite close with some wonderful people on the committee, and our tenure there has proven to be a wonderful source of new friendships. Dining by Design is an event that we are all passionate about as it promotes creativity and serves a wonderful cause.

A window dispplay at the entrance to Gump's which featured tableware and quotes about meals.

Our local San Francisco event benefits the Positive Health Program at SF General Hospital. This program allows people with HIV and AIDS to get treatment on demand, and provides a clinic for those who may not have adequate access to health care.

A detail of Claudia Juestel's table for Adeeni Design Group showing a wrapped box with their signature ribbon.

This year our dear friend Claudia (of SF Luxe) had the idea to have a “Pre-event” at Gump’s, the wonderful San Francisco institution. The title of the event was “The Art of the Table” and featured four prominent San Francisco designers designing tablescapes using their imaginations and Gump’s wonderful merchandise. The four designers who participated were Claudia Juestel of Adeeni Design Group, Martha Angus, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, and Ken Fulk. The table designs produced were festive, and just the right note to launch this season of Dining by Design. The event culminated in a panel discussion with all the table designers moderated by the marvelous Diane Dorrans-Saeks (of the Style Saloniste, and so much more) which proved to be candid and lively.


Diane Dorrans-Saeks moderating the designer panel with Claudia Juestel and Orlando Diaz-Azcuy.

Barbara and I were happy to meet Katie Denham of katiedid blog. She was lovely and it’s always nice to meet other designers and bloggers in person.

Ken Fulk's table featuring Hermes saddles and scarves as seats.

Gump’s always puts on a lovely event, and the staff is amazing. As an added bonus, one of the sponsors, Hermès had a drawing to win a gift bag (they gave away 10) and my significant other “The Duke” was one of the lucky winners. The bags contained an Hermès neck tie, a small plate in the “Jardin des Orchidèes” pattern, a cookbook, fragrance and a magazine. What a lovely surprise!

The Hermes gift bag spoils.

We’re now less than one month to the actual Dining by Design event in San Francisco. The event will be held on Wednesday November 18th (Table Hop and Taste) and Thursday November 19th (the gala dinner). The event will be held in the Galleria of the Design Center at 101 Henry Adams. Tickets can be purchased on line here.

A table by Martha Angus using antiques and an Ikea rug.

*As a side note: I must apologize for the quality of the photos. My camera broke a day before the event and I was forced to use an “older model”.

David Hansen