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The Dining Divas: Plan B Cafe

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Guests: Carolyn Bregard, retired, but still a wife, mother and grandmother; Dale Adams, retired and a housewife (Bregard and Adams were at Aerojet’s table at the American Heart Association gala); Jill Matranga, teacher, attended Feast for the Streets benefiting Francis House; Greg Bunker, Francis House executive director; Jeanne Reaves, CEO and president of River City Bank, and community supporter

Where: Plan B Cafe, 7600 Greenhaven Drive, Sacramento; (916) 392-7600

Benefiting organization: American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and Francis House, a counseling and resource center for poor individuals and families

1-second review: A gourmet destination with an interesting menu in the Pocket

The best: Duck confit; rack of lamb; pommes allumettes (skinny-skinny fries); tiger prawns wrapped in bacon; fennel-leek tartelette; portobello mushroom sandwich; grilled salmon fillet; and, for dessert, cappuccino mocha cake. The ratatouille that accompanied the lamb and the spicy pepper relish dip with the rib-eye were worth noting.

Wine: Diva Paulette Bruce served as wine steward, choosing Dry Creek 2005 Heritage Zinfandel Sonoma County and Matanzas Creek 2005 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County.

Caveat: Due to the layout and signage, Plan B can be difficult to spot. It is there, though. Keep looking. And phone first, especially in January, when the cafe may be closed for vacation.

Chatter: Jill Matranga threw out a fine question: What three foods would you eat if you had only 24 hours to live? Almost everyone chose red wine and/or chocolate. Some other choices: Diva Bernice Hagen wants caviar and mashed potatoes. Diva Peg Tomlinson-Poswall went the foie gras route. Basque lamb topped Diva Paulette Bruce’s list. Jeanne Reaves picked salmon and so did Greg Bunker, who added asparagus. Jill Matranga wanted great bread and triple crème cheese. Dale Adams decided on profiteroles and shrimp cocktail with white wine, please.

The Dining Divas—Gloria Glyer, Paulette Bruce, Bernice Hagen, Joan Leineke, Gayla Mace and Peg Tomlinson-Poswall—have been wining and dining together since 1993. Every month, they lunch at an area restaurant, taking as their guests people who have placed winning bids at charity events. To date, they have raised more than $268,000 for local charities and nonprofits.