VOL 26 | ISSUE 7 | FEBRUARY 17, 2025
Patina Catering shone brightly at Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ 50th anniversary of its Candlelight Concert fundraiser in December, which included a 90-minute performance by Elton John. The Patina team, which operates all hospitality services at the Costa Mesa, Calif., venue, brought in James Beard Award-winning chef Timothy Hollingsworth to curate a three-course menu and cocktails that nodded to Elton John’s songs and lyrics.
The starter, “Tiny Dancer,” featured a cauliflower panna cotta topped with caviar; the main course was “Earth and Water,” a duet of beef tenderloin and lobster tail with king trumpet mushrooms, leeks and a bordelaise sauce; and dessert was “A Taste of Love,” a gilded chocolate ganache torte.
The goal was to “create a multisensory experience that intertwined music and cuisine,” Stephanie Edens, vice president of events and catering for Patina Restaurant Group, told BizBash. “Chef Hollingsworth and our team worked together to craft a menu that paid subtle homage to Elton John’s iconic repertoire, balancing playful creativity with sophisticated culinary execution. Each dish and cocktail reflected a sense of artistry that mirrored the performer’s legendary style.”
“The ‘Crocodile Roc’ [beverage] combined vibrant flavors of hibiscus and guava to evoke a sense of fun and nostalgia, while ‘Benny and the Bourbon’ delivered a more refined and layered profile, much like the song itself,” Edens added.
The event, attended by nearly 500 guests, raised an astounding $19.2 million to support nonprofit arts, education and community initiatives in Los Angeles.
“Preparing a menu of this caliber for a large, formal event required meticulous planning and flawless execution,” Edens said. “We relied on precise timing, streamlined plating stations and a highly skilled team led by chef Hollingsworth. Clear communication and rigorous rehearsals ensured every detail was perfect, from the first hors d’oeuvre to the final dessert.”
Click here to watch a video recap featuring Hollingsworth, Patina Restaurant Group President John (JK) Kolaski and Senior Sales Director Gina Carr.