‘Top Chef’ finalist Amar Santana to host extravagant James Beard dinner in Orange County

Chef/owner Amar Santana flashes a grin at the charcuterie counter next to pig-shaped planks at Vaca in Costa Mesa. He is hosting a James Beard Foundation benefit dinner on Aug. 10 at Vaca. (File photo CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER)Amar Santana’s James Beard benefit dinner will include a sampling of the restaurant’s wood-fired steaks. (Photo Courtesy Sarah Knight Photography )Paella is a signature dish found on the Vaca menu. For the James Beard Foundation dinner, Amar Santan