NIGEL BARKER AND CAT CORA HOST CHEFS FOR SEALS EVENT IN BEVERLY HILLS

Last night at the Montage in Beverly Hills, a distinguished group of chefs (Cat Cora, Mark Peel, Andrew Kirschner, Kerry Simon, Jamie Lauren, Fabio Vivani, Patrick Ponsati, and others) came together for the Humane Society of the United States Chefs for Seals event. These celebrity chefs have all pledged to boycott Canadian seafood in reaction to the brutal commercial seal slaughter that takes place every year in Newfoundland. And they are not alone. During the soiree, Cat Cora revealed that 5,500 establishments and almost 700,000 individuals around the world have signed the pledge to boycott Canadian seafood until the slaughter is halted for good. That is a lot of support!

And the Hollywood community also made their voices heard as well. Host and A Sealed Fate filmmaker Nigel Barker was jubilant over the turnout and acknowledged, “It isn’t easy to ask a chef to stop buying Canadian seafood. You are asking people to make a decision to perhaps buy a more expensive fish for their restaurant.” He continued, ” But they are doing that because they feel strongly about what is going on.”  House’s Lisa Edelstein felt very proud of Barker’s philanthropic endeavors, stating “I think he has taken the attention from his show (America’s Next Top Model) and turned it into really valuable projects. It is just great to support that in any way I can.” A gorgeous Mena Suvari (decked in a one-shouldered Lipsy cocktail dress) mentioned to me “I find what (the commercial sealers) are doing completely disgusting!”

Cat Cora and Nigel Barker

I also got the chance to chat with America’s Got Talent 1st runner up, Jackie Evancho-an adorable 10 year old truly with the voice of an angel. After placing on the hit show, she spoke about her love for seals and wanting to protect them. And she got the opportunity to showcase her amazing opera voice as she performed one her her favorite songs at the fete:

Barker’s beautiful photographs of young harp seals were on display and were admired by all of the guests. He also snapped photos of the chefs and celebrity attendees in his pop-up studio at the party. DJ Josh Madden spun the tunes as the luxury hotel served some of the best vegan food-think sweet potato fries with pomegranate ketchup, scrumptious spring rolls, and shaved melon laced with cilantro and jalapeno (sounds unusual, but it was tasty!). Also on hand for the event were Hawaii Five-o’s Taryn Manning, Ashlan Gorse from E! News, comedian Hal Sparks, Glee’s Charlotte Ross, actor Robert Davi, actresses Louise Roe and Stella Maeve. For more information about the Chefs for Seals campaign and how you can help protect seals, click here.

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Singing sensation Jackie Evancho

Mena Suvari and Taryn Manning

Lisa Edelstein

Hal Sparks and Robert Davi

Louise Roe

Ashlan Gorse and Guest

DJ Josh Madden

Celebrity chefs

Nigel Barker shooting Charlotte Ross

Jackie and Nigel posing in front of one of his photos from "A Sealed Fate"