Celebrity chef holds fundraiser dinner for fire victims in Wine Country

NAPA/SONOMA COUNTIES, Calif. (KTVU) - Here in this vineyard along the Napa-Sonoma county line, 500 people all sat at one table. They each paid $500 for a lunch, where all the proceeds are going to go to help victims of the North Bay fire storms.  

"These are our friends, these are our neighbors, this is our family," said celebrity chef and Marin County resident Tyler Florence. He helped organize the event called Grateful Table.

"This is about awareness. It's about love and about being grateful and in a moment in time we have to come together and say thank you," said Florence.

Some people bought tickets and donated them to first responders and victims of the fire to enjoy. 

"Lost everything in the fire," said Emily Carey who  lived in Coffey Park with her husband and young daughter.

The family got out safely but now must start over.

"We feel so loved right now. We can't thank everyone enough," said Emily Carey. "It's kind of mind boggling when you have Tyler Florence and big names you see on TV and they are walking right by you, feeding you and giving you a glass of wine. It' a good feeling these people are here to support us," said Todd Carey.  

While the lunch that includes butternut squash risotto, turkey and lamb may be first-rate food really wasn't the reason people came.

"It sounded like an amazing worthwhile event especially during the week of Thanksgiving," said Christine Rios of Napa.

The entire event was sponsored by the tourist organization Visit California.

"Despite the tragedy there's a spirit about California. And it resonates right here in the Valley. You can feel the warmth and spirit here," said Caroline Beteta president of Visit California

Those who were here say if Northern California is to fully recover, it will take the community to continue to come together and  pitch in.