Celebrity Settings

Margrit Mondavi Charms at WP at Bel-Air; Halle Berry Hits Osteria Drago

Margrit Mondavi
Margrit Mondavi Photo: Mondavi

Margrit Mondavi, the elegant 87-year-old who helped put Napa on the map with her late husband of 28 years, Robert, entertained a rapt table in the private dining room at Wolfgang Puck at Bel-Air on Wednesday night. Introducing her recently released memoir, Margrit Mondavi’s Sketchbook, the graceful, engaging storyteller had her audience absorbed, in noticeable contrast to our usual company, one-quarter listening to their companions, three-quarters glued to their iPhones. Detailing the multiple arts programs–including the Copia center, Summer Music Festival, “Great Chefs” classes, and Oxbow school–she’s established over the years in Napa, this captivating spark of charisma noted a fashion faux pas while meeting the Queen of England and recalled the days when French chefs grew to embrace the California wine they previously turned their noses up at, as detailed in her book. Mondavi also taught the table an important lesson about looking your companions in the eye when you clink glasses, revealing, “It’s said that if you don’t look one another in the eye…you’ll be cursed with seven years of bad sex!” While it’s hard to outdo this celebrity sighting, look on to see where else the stars were eating in L.A. this week.

Boa: Brooke Mueller shows what passes for fashion in L.A. [Daily Mail]

Cecconi’s: Melissa McCarthy, Cat Deely, and Giada De Laurentiis, among other stars, helped kick-off Emmys week at the Italian. [SF Gate]

Madeo: Gavin Rossdale took a break from crusiing ABbot Kinney for dinner with wifey Gwen Stefani. [Perez Hilton]

Napa Valley Grille: Amy Adams celebrated the premiere of Trouble With the Curve on Wednesday. [GS]

Osteria Drago: Halle Berry was in the house with two male friends on Wednesday. [GS]

RockSugar: Cee-Lo Green was spotted here last night with a lady companion over a quiet dinner. [GS]

Street
: The Jonas Brothers had a family dinner on Wednesday. [Celebrity Gossip]

The Parlor: Sofia Vergara was DENIED! And she wasn’t happy. [GS]

WP24: The cast of End of Watch partied here to celebrate the premiere. [Examiner]

Wolfgang Puck at Bel-Air: Margrit Mondavi hosted a private dinner to showcase her new book, Margrit Mondavi’s Sketchbook. [GS]

Margrit Mondavi Charms at WP at Bel-Air; Halle Berry Hits Osteria Drago