Unique Experiences

Item Description

Three-Course Abalone Dinner for 8 Guests -- All of the Best!

Two of the Valley’s best hosts, and best friends of so many worthy organizations, Stacey and Bob Bressler, will open their home to you for the meal of a lifetime, so….round up your best pals! 

Eight lucky guests will enjoy the best fruits of the famed diving skills of Joel Toller, husband of UVFC board member Lisa Toller.  Joel will risk life and limb in the shark-infested, murky waters off the Mendocino coast and free-dive 25 feet below the surface to pry reluctant abalone – a tasty mollusk rarely available to the public – off the rocks. Harvest of these delicacies is strictly enforced and limited to only 3 abalone per diver.

After the meat is separated from the shell, it is cleaned, sliced and pounded…Then the breaded abalone undergoes several delicious preparations.  Previous winners of this dinner say that this is the best abalone they have ever had! Your three-course dinner will include appetizers, side dishes, and dessert, prepared by ultra-talented, best local chef, Sarah Heller at the Bressler home in St. Helena overlooking beautiful estate vineyards.  Dinner will be accompanied by carefully selected wines from the Bressler’s extensive cellar, one of the best in the Valley!

If you’re lucky, you may get an abalone shell to take home to commemorate the evening. If you’re really lucky, you may get a chance to help pound the abalone -- an experience not to be missed! Dive in to the Mollusk Mania fun!

Donated by: Stacey and Bob Bressler, Lisa and Joel Toller

Item Special Note

The date for the dinner will be mutually agreed upon by the winning bidder, the diving team and the Bresslers, based upon availability; abalone season: April, May, June, and August, September, October; and the whims of Mother Nature and her tides and ocean conditions.

This auction item is valid for one year from date of purchase.

Collection of California Sales Tax:

Unless a valid resale permit is presented to seller prior to the sale, purchaser will be required to pay all state and local retail sales taxes applicable on the date of sale. Resale permits will be accepted only for businesses that are reasonably expected to buy and sell wine. Sales tax will be collected on the winning auction price of each lot that contains tangible goods.