The elegant home of UL Lafayette President Dr. E. Joseph Savoie and his lovely wife Gail was a fitting site for the Venetian Nights VIP party. Reflections of Hope is this year's theme for the American Cancer Society gala, set for Friday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. at the City Club. Party Central decorator/floral designer Kim Veillon assured Party Girl that this will be the most fantabulous fundraiser ever, complete with gondolas, twinkling lights and Italian artifacts capturing the romantic essence of Venice. At the VIP party, the crowd swooned over Abacus executive chef Joe Lewis' impressive spread, including his Gold Medal-winning portobello duck mignon with root beer demi-glace (to die for!), artichoke and boursin cheese fritters, crawfish cardinale, praline chicken, goat cheese-stuffed strawberries sprinkled with black pepper (a flavorful combo), nests of pesto and capellini pasta, grilled beef tenderloin canapés, smoked salmon and boursin cheese-stuffed tomatoes and grilled ribeye bites with caramelized onions over toast points glazed with balsamic reduction. So delicious, I kept going back for more (and so did many others - diets be damned!). Looking spectacular at the festive fête were honorary chair Dr. M. Maitland DeLand in a stunning white suit; Buddy Graves of ACS's national home office; artiste Bonnie Camos and attorney Mark Ackal.
Jason Guilbeau, Buddy Graves, Brandon Touchet
and Donna Delahoussaye
Mark Ackal and Dr. Joseph Savoie
Sherrie Campbell and Charline Guidry
Jason Guilbeau and Liz Landry
Mark Ackal and Dr. M. Maitland DeLand
Paul Scelfo, Joe Lewis and Sheila Miller
Jason Guilbeau, Holly Haley, Lauren Polito,
Michael LeBlanc, Amanda and Mike Bedgood
Blaire Savoie Saulnier, Brandon Touchet
and Alicia Courville
(back row) Kim Veillon, Jason Guilbeau,
Amanda Bedgood and Joe Savoie; Bonnie
Camos, Holly Haley and Gail Savoie
(back row) Laura Polito, Amanda Bedgood,
Holly Haley and Bonnie Camos; Andrea Courville
and Gail Savoie