Community, crab cakes and caring share the stage at Fort Bragg benefit

FORT BRAGG, CA., 2/9/26 — Under a big white tent at the corner of Main and Spruce streets in Fort Bragg on Saturday, Feb. 7, a sold-out crowd gathered for the Mendocino Coast Clinics’ 25th annual crab cake cook-off, wine tasting competition and auction. Far more than a culinary showcase, the event carried a purpose—and a heart—that extended well beyond the crab cakes and wine pairings.

The tent pulsed with loud music and energy as chefs and their assistants worked furiously over sizzling crab cakes. As the rich, savory scent of seafood filled the air, hosts from local  wineries poured their finest selections while guests swirled, sniffed and sipped, laughter and conversation mingling with the clink of wine glasses.

Volunteers checked in guests, darted between tables, adjusted place settings and smoothed out last-minute details. Every corner of the tent seemed to hum with anticipation—a perfect blend of culinary craftsmanship, friendly competition and community spirit. After 400 tickets were sold, some people had to be turned away.

Mendocino Coast Clinics Executive Director Lucresha Renteria welcomed attendees from the raised platform stage at the center of the tent, thanking them for supporting rural health care. “Across California and the nation, health care is too sparse—lacking primary care providers, too complex to navigate, and too expensive,” Renteria said “At MCC, we care for anyone who walks through our doors, and we are committed to ensuring cost is not prohibitive. Thank you for helping us make a difference in our tiny, spectacular part of the Mendocino Coast.”

She added that every dollar raised goes toward caring for more than 10,000 patients who are served each year. “During these difficult days of turmoil and uncertainty, you travel here to enjoy our stunning coast, our chefs and our wineries. As we look around the tent, we see both familiar and new faces,” Renteria said.

Program handouts at each table invited guests to help MCC offset federal Medicare cuts and maintain outpatient services for those most in need. Clinic staff and board members circulated among the crowd, chatting with supporters.

Guests wandered the tent, sampling crab cakes and treats from local vendors including Thanksgiving Coffee, Redwood Chocolates, Blessed Be Mustard and Shani’s Sweet Creations. Lining the tens were 15 chef stations and nine local winery tasting tables.

Shani Christenson and her husband Chris showcased  Shani’s Sweet Creations, based in Mendocino. Specialty dessert samples were a popular tasting item.  “I love supporting this community anytime I can help,” Christenson said.

Judges included Nöel Burgess, freelance writer for Forbes, Yahoo and Travel + Leisure; Jess Lander, wine reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle; and Melissa Vogt, whose bylines appear in Napa Valley Life, Wine Country This Month and Food & Wine. During the competition, the judges circled the tent, tasting crab cakes,  photographing the entries and engaging with nervous chefs as they plated and garnished samples. Afterwards, the judges sat down around a table to deliberate, calling for additional tastings as needed.

Energy surged as emcees and auctioneers Willits mayor Tom Allman and guest charity auctioneer DawnMarie Kotsonis from Fullerton led the live auction and pledge drive.

“Clinics are closing nationally, but not here,” Allman told the crowd. Dawn Marie added, “You will not see the faces of every child who is seen, every person helped through our street program, or those who cannot afford eye exams. You make a difference for them all.”

Later, Kotsonis said, “I travel all over the country doing these auctions. The difference here is the genuine sense of community. Neighbors really care for each other—politics, gender, income, age, even part-time residents—it doesn’t matter. People understand that if their community is healthier, they benefit from that. People inspire each other—it’s remarkable to witness.”

It was a first-time event for Leorea Filosena and Patricia Alvarez, both from Sacramento, who sported festive crab hats. “I saw the  posting for the event on Facebook and researched what the clinic did,” Filosena said. “I was so impressed by MCC’s mission and how they serve the community. Healthcare is a right for everybody.”

“We will definitely be back,” Alvarez added.

Thomas Parker and his wife have attended the event for the past 10 years. Parker said, “We have 19 people coming from Davis for a good cause and this welcoming community.” He proudly held a piece of artwork he bid on during the silent auction.

Tobia and Arnon Ziklik of Santa Clara have been attending for 15 years. Tobia said, “We toured the clinic yesterday. Lucresha led the tour, and we were moved by their philosophy and facilities. This is such a beautiful community-building event for an important cause.”

Arnon added, “Twenty years ago we fell in love with a piece of land here. We just recently bought it, and we’ll be neighbors once we build our house.”

Chef Lynn “Queenie” Derrick from Rhody’s Cafe, in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, was joined by guest chef Janelle Weaver, former owner of the Bewildered Pig in Philo. Derrick said they wanted to come up with a completely different recipe, but they weren’t satisfied with “just good.” The two imagined something fresh and new. Weaver took that vision and brought it to life, turning the classic crab cake into a dish that surprised and delighted many guests—and their crab cake earned the People’s Choice Award.

Whitesboro Grange co-president Wendy Meyer teamed up with Spontaneous Cafe’s personal caterer and culinary instructor Matt Samuelson. Samuelson recently turned his talents to the monthly grange breakfast. “Our numbers went up,” Meyer reported.

The Fund the Future pledge drive segment at the three-hour event alone raised $115,000. Final auction totals were still being calculated at press time. Renteria said, “The numbers don’t show the depth of love and support behind this effort.” She noted that Caspar resident Dr. James Katzell will match all $100 contributions up to $25,000, and that MCC would continue to seek contributions until that match is complete. Jamie Peters, partners relations manager for Visit Mendocino County, pointed out that the cook-off would not have been possible without the participation of the chefs, wineries and professional judges. Event sponsors and lodging partners formed the backbone of the event, while community volunteers played an equally vital role.

Crab Cake Tasting

Wine Tasting

People’s Choice Awards