Indulge in Small Plates for Great Apes: Fundraiser Wednesday in Davis!

By Justin Cox

Chef Pru Mendez will host an evening at Tucos restaurant in downtown Davis on Wednesday, September 24 to benefit the Gorilla Doctors. The event, “Small Plates, Big Thanks,” is scheduled for 5-7 pm.

Guests will enjoy a unique opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine with Gorilla Doctors Co-Directors Dr. Kirsten Gilardi and Dr. Mike Cranfield and learn some of the challenges and triumphs they face on the road to helping a species thrive against the odds.

Gorilla Doctors is a unique partnership between the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis and the non-profit Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. Gorilla Doctors studies and cares for endangered gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When a gorilla has been wounded or has contracted a life-threatening illness, Gorilla Doctors intervenes to save its life.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to connect with our friends in Davis and hopefully make some new ones while enjoying and Chef Pru’s fantastic cooking,” said Dr. Gilardi.

A limited number of tickets are available at $50 per person, $30 of which will be a tax-deductible donation to Gorilla Doctors. The event will feature a special menu of hors d’oeuvres by Chef Pru coupled with rare and local wines; all food and beverage is included in the ticket price.

Pru Mendez, Owner and Chef of Tucos Restaurant, said that he is “so excited and honored to be helping such talented and caring people do such important and dangerous work protecting our treasured great apes. I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at Tucos!”

For more information about Gorilla Doctors visit www.gorilladoctors.org, or to attend the event, tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite -- follow this link.