FernCare Free Clinic was hosting a fundraising dinner at Elegance By Design on Valentine’s Day for 60 guests. The event was to begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. It (soon) became apparent that there was a glitch with the chef.

In less than the time it is taking me to write this out, Dan Behnke, owner of Elegance By Design, 231 W. Nine Mile, had requested help from Bob Zagar, chef and co-owner of Josephine’s Creperie & Bistro, 241 W. Nine Mile, and Buddy Orlando, a chef at Maria’s Front Room, 215 W. Nine Mile, to prepare the promised three-course dinner.

DONE!

Ann St. Peter, across the street at Pinwheel Bakery, 220 W.Nine Mile, provided the heavenly wonderful cookies and the dearest cupcakes for dessert!

DONE!

This happened at 6:25 p.m., and our guests were into their first course at 7:18! Coffee provided by Tim Hortons at 22230 Woodward.

DONE!

These wonderful people saw a problem, rolled up their sleeves and solved the problem. Where else but in Ferndale? Where else would you see such support? This is so Ferndale. I am humbled, thankful and absolutely awed.

The dinners, by the way, were no slap-dash affairs. From Maria’s, our guests who are vegetarian were served the famous, mouthwatering spinach tortollini; for our other guests, Bob from Josephine’s created, on the spot, a shrimp and scallop with risotto dish and built wonderful fresh vegetable and greens salads.

In addition, so many more people to thank: Bob Babut, FernCare treasurer, who jumped in and turned into the bartender; Jackie Cutright, store manager for Elegance, who kept the appetizers and transition from one plan into another seamless; Monica Mills and Andrea Troutman, the two interior design interns who became waiters and assisters in a matter of seconds; the incomparable wait staff from Josephine’s, who know food delivery like nobody’s business; Joann Willcock, who had door duty as the courses moved from Josephine’s to Elegance; David Baker, owner of Maria’s; Josh Martelli and his three-piece, very accomplished jazz band, who kept the evening mellow; and, of course, our guests, who were so gracious.

The fairy tale end to the story is that the dinner and evening were just what we wanted it to be — a dinner in a very unique setting (a design studio!) with great music among friends.

The postscript is — please support the businesses that helped create this memorable evening. That’s the best thank you they could ever receive.

Ann Heler, FernCare board president

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