Julie and Julia... in Magnolia

When guests received handmade “acceptance letters” to "Le Cordon Bleu Magnolia," it was clear this wasn't your average dinner party.

The invitations to Suzanne Cameron’s event read, “Chef attire optional, pearls required.”

Cameron, of Magnolia (and Cameron Catering in Ballard) hosted her tenth annual fundraising dinner for Parkinson’s disease Saturday night (9/26) at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center at Discovery Park. Cameron’s husband, Chris Jewell, was diagnosed with the disease a decade ago.

This year’s dinner was inspired by the movie “Julie and Julia,” and featured the French cuisine popularized by Julia Child.

Julie Reese, a Magnolia resident and friend of Cameron, (she's the one in the photo above, getting a hug from Cameron) said that 160 guests were served from seven food stations, some staffed by professional chefs. The menu included beef bourguignon and bouillabaisse. The band Pearl Django played jazz music, and the invitations were made to look like acceptance letters to Le Cordon Bleu, where Julia Child studied cooking.

Reese said Cameron saw the movie twice. The first time she simply took it in, absorbing the flavors of French food on film. The second time, she took notes so she could create a more accurate homage to Child and her story.

If you weren’t there, feast your eyes on these photos. And as Julia herself would say, “Bon Appétit!”

Photos courtesy of Julie Reese. First photo is tomatoes, fresh from the garden. Second is Josh Spencer, an intern chef from the Rainer Club, working the bouillabaisse station. Merci!