THE CROWD:

The financial markets may be crumbling, but in Newport Beach last week there was a luncheon at Fleming’s Fashion Island that was filled with so much high energy that all the worries in the world were forgotten for a couple of hours.

The Fashionable Women in support of Chapman University invited the crowd to a luncheon to meet one of the world’s most handsome men. His name is Salvatore Ferragamo, the grandson and namesake of the iconic founder of the House of Ferragamo, an 80-year-old Italian business empire that began with a pair of shoes made for a Hollywood star at the dawn of the golden age of film.

The scion of the Ferragamo family jetted in to Newport Beach from his home in Florence, Italy, to introduce his family’s estate bottled wine Il Borro. The award-winning wine is created from grapes harvested in a spectacular vineyard in the Tuscan region of Italia.

Ferragamo, 37, married eight years and the father of three young children, enchanted his largely female audience composed of some 100 accomplished and exquisitely dressed women. Spotted in the crowd were the very chic Sally Crockett, Eve Kornyei, Zee Allred, Adrienne Brennan, Sarah Corrigan, Jean Macino, Rusty Hood, Ollie Hill, Sue Hook and luncheon co-chairwomen Donna Bunce and Donna Calvert. They arrived and left their lives at the front door of Fleming’s and, for a couple of hours on a Thursday, enjoyed a luncheon that served a remarkable 2004 Merlot from Il Borro and a fashion show from Bloomingdale’s Fashion Island that included the latest of the Ferragamo creations in everything from shoes to handbags to jewelry.

Ferragamo was protected from the female crush by friend and comrade in the restaurant and wine trade Antonio Cagnolo, proprietor of the popular Antonello at South Coast Village. Cagnolo and Ferragamo made a dashing pair of James Bond-like gents speaking Italian and conferring on all matter of business and life while the ladies strained their ears to hear the mellifluous tones of the Italian tongue.

Gorgeous models paraded Fleming’s, showing off items from the Ferragamo trunk show including a little handbag of natural orylag fur (rabbit) made into an evening clutch and priced at $1,750. Bunnies beware. A handsome burnt orange crocodile tote, $14,200, passed by followed by a gray ocean nappa leather tote $2,090, which the ladies went gaga over. Meanwhile the Fleming’s staff passed delectable pre luncheon bites of yellow tail, baked phyllo shells stuffed with cheese, crab and artichokes, a delicious asparagus tart dusted with Parmesan, and an assortment of Italian delicacies including wonderful salmon bruschetta with cream cheese and sun-dried tomato relish.

The connection between Fleming’s and Ferragamo was all about catering to the highest international standards of food and hospitality. Fleming’s is celebrating its 10th anniversary and pulled out all the stops to present a world-class luncheon for the Fashionable Women of Chapman.

The crowd was then invited into Fleming’s private dining room at the rear of the restaurant and seated at long banquet tables lined up like a pattern of stripes on fine fabric. Glamorous platinum blond Bunce introduced Mr. Ferragamo and other special guests including Fleming’s operating partner Don Bendel and Fleming’s President Skip Fox. Glasses were raised and the party went into high gear. Fleming’s staff served a first course of heirloom tomatoes with Burrata cheese followed by a main course of petite filet with Portabello mushroom sauce that was absolute perfection. Normally a ladies luncheon does not include a filet entrée. This meat was so tender, even the most food conscious could not resist.

Ferragamo’s Il Borro Merlot Toscana Italy 2004 was poured generously, becoming a midday liquid aphrodisiac. Antonio Cagnolo stood up at his table across from Ferragamo and was inspired to do an impromptu live auction offering to prepare dinner for a party of eight at his home for the high bidder. The room went nuts and Cagnolo wound up selling the party of eight, not once but three times at $4,000 each, raising $12,000 for the Fashionable Women in support of Chapman.

Attention last minute revelers. Tonight the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation presents “Under The Newport Sun” wine tasting at the Newport Harbor vineyards and winery at the Newport Back Bay. The event will be catered by the incomparable Saltwater Events and Catering Company and will feature a lavish spread of wines available for tasting and purchase from local vendors. The setting on the Back Bay is enchanting. This private winery at 2128 Mesa Drive in Newport Beach has been lovingly created by owner Richard Moriarty and Loren Blackburn over years of cultivating some 1,200 vines on property rising from the Back Bay. Tickets to the Saturday night affair are $75 per person. The party starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Newport Harbor High School Educational Foundation. For last-minute reservations or information contact Emily Evans at (949) 646-1556 or e-mail [email protected].

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.