FSA
5th Annual Cooking UP Dreams Chef Competition for Charity
By FBWorld Team
The
Carriage and Western Art Museum in Santa Barbara was overflowing
with guests supporting the "Cooking Up Dreams" chef
competition in support of the Family Service Agency Santa Barbara,
providing mental health and basic needs programs for underserved
children, families, and seniors in Santa Barbara County. The
competition for People's Choice and Judges' Choice awards inspired
stiff competition at the 5th annual event.
Peoples Choice Awards
"This
year we've assembled a great variety of culinary experts from
Montecito to Buelton," said Event Co-Chair, Marni Cooney.
It was a fabulous selection of dishes, and judges Joey Buttitta,
anchor for KEYT3; George Yatchisin, food and drink writer; Hilary
Dole Klein, writer and editor and Geneva Ives. food and travel
writer did a fine job. Joe Buttitta, KEYT3 anchor, said there
were so many great dishes that it was very difficult to select
the 2019 winner.
Chef Peter Cham (Finch & Fork) and
Chef Damien Giliberti (Outpost at Goodland) Teams
Participating
chefs included winners and favorites from last year as well
as some first timers and they included Chef Chanel Ducharme
of Bluewater Grill, Chef Ranferi Rios from Casa Blanca Restaurant,
Chef Peter Cham from Finch & Fork, Chef Jeff Olsson of Industrial
Eats in Buellton, Chef Weston Richards of Les Marchands Wine
Bar & Merchant, Chef Michael Hutchings of Michael's Catering
(2015 winner), Chef Damien Giliberti of Outpost at the Goodland
(2018 Judges' Choice Winner), Chef Justin West of Soul Cal Smokehouse,
Chef Taylor Melonuk of The Middle Child, Michael Amador of Uncorked
Wine Tasting & Kitchen, and Chef Ron True of Desserts by
Rincon Events.
Michael Amador (Uncorked Wine Tasting & Kitchen)
Chef
Damien Giliberti of Outpost at the Goodland (2018 Judges Choice
Winner), Chef Chanel Ducharme of Bluewater Grill, Michael Amador
of Uncorked Wine Tasting & Santa Barbara FishHouse were
top 2019 Peoples Choice. Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro was
a new player this year and their braised beef bites were fantastic,
and Michael's Catering (2015 winner) As usual, served some very
fine tastes. Guests enjoyed complimentary wine from Babcock,
Brander, Margerum, and Santa Barbara Winery, while music by
DJ Scott Topper, a fabulous silent and live auction, and photo
booth experiences by RUMOR kept guests entertained between sips
and bites.
2019 Judges
Sponsors
of the event included chef sponsors John and Tania Burke, and
Les and Zora Charles; restaurant sponsors John and Jill Bishop,
Michael and Marni Cooney, Tisha Ford, Robert and Susan Manning,
Montecito Bank & Trust, Sandy and Dave Nordahl, Maryan Schall,
and Union Bank. Maitre d' sponsors Bergquist Wang LLC, Tim and
Ginny Bliss, Fred and Linda Gluck, Jim and Chana Jackson, Jim
and Mary Morouse, Price, Postel & Parma LLP, SBCC Foundation,
David Market at Coast Village Chevron. VIP sponsors Katya Armistead,
Collete and Jeff Becker, Liz and Andrew Butchen, Rod Durham,
Robert Janeway, Bruce and Cathy Milner, Kathy O'Leary, Gail
Persoon, and Robert Reid.
Complimentary Wines
Family
Service Agency (FSA) is a nonprofit social service organization
that has served Santa Barbara County since 1899, continually
improving the health and wellbeing of the community's most vulnerable
children, families and seniors through teir transformative and
essential programs: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Senior Services,
Family Support Services, Youth & Family Behavioral Health
and School Counseling Services. All services are provided free
or on a sliding fee/donation scale and no one is denied assistance
because of an inability to pay. Visit fsacares.org or call 805-965-1001
for more information.
By Bonnie Carroll
About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since
1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's
Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com,
does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes
to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle
publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published
in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact
her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.