Cleve-Lens: Five Star Sensation

Five Star Sensation

For Cleveland foodies, there is not a better fundraiser than University Hospital’s Five Star Sensation. The biannual event, chaired by world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, gathers 50 of the country’s top chefs and pairs them with a few dozen vintners, all hand chosen by Puck.

This year’s event was held in two large tents on the future site of University Hospital’s Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood. Nearly 2,000 guests mingled about, sampling expertly-prepared dishes from restaurants like Beverly Hills’ Spago, Chicago’s Spring, New York’s Nobu and San Francisco’s Slanted Door.

Puck though held center court with a large buffet at the back of the main tent, which at its peak had a 45-minute wait just to try the chairman’s famous food. With all proceeds going to benefit UH’s Ireland Cancer Center, attendees graciously moved from station to station, tasting dishes like slow-roasted lamb chop, fried quail and tuna tartare gazpacho.

As the sampling began to wane, many attendees then made their way to the dance floor to groove to the music of Cleveland’s own Park Place.—Aaron Mendelsohn