How's this for a casual weeknight supper? Crabettes (mini-crab cakes) from Gertrude's, baked tenderloin from Ruth's Chris Steak House, paella from Tio Pepe and cream puffs from the French Oven & Bonjour. Those dishes, and goodies from six more local restaurants and caterers, were delightedly devoured by some 400 guests at the Women's Housing Coalition's 1999 Kitchen Party.

Among those found merrily munching at the Baltimore Museum of Industry: WHC executive director Sue Thompson; event chair Andrea Walls; honorary chairs Dr. Carla Hayden and Bill Struever; WHC board president Roann Nichols; board members Thelma Millard, Valerie Keys and Brian Voss; Debra Quade, senior VP of First National Bank of Maryland; Herb Davis, president of Herbert Davis Associates; and Joe Smith, director of external affairs for Bell-Atlantic Maryland.

The gourmet get-together satisfied more than appetites. It cooked up about $40,000 to help the WHC provide housing and support services to low-income, disabled women in Baltimore. --