Featuring The County’s Best Chefs.
More than 20 celebrated local chefs from across San Diego County will donate their time and culinary talent to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank’s 2016 gala, Foodtasia: Chefs, Cork & Craft which will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Food Bank’s 80,000 square foot warehouse facility in Miramar.
The gala’s chef committee co-chairs, Chef Sara Polczynski of Seasoned Plates and Chef Jonathan Hale of The Prado, are leading the team of chefs to help raise vital funds for the Food Bank’s hunger-relief programs, including the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.
“We had a vision to bring together San Diego’s top culinary talent for an evening of extraordinary cuisine,” said Polczynski, who describes the evening as a culinary adventure. “Each chef will prepare his or her own signature hors d’oeuvres for the cocktail reception, and following the reception, each chef will be assigned to a table of 10 guests, acting as that table’s personal chef for the evening, preparing a three-course meal with drink pairings. And the VIP tables will get an additional course of cheese from Venissimo Cheese.”
“So you might be experiencing hors d’oeuvres from five different chefs during the cocktail party, and then have a different chef cooking your three-course dinner that evening,” Polczynski tells Giving Back Magazine. “We want our guests to be open-minded and willing to take an adventure with some of San Diego’s finest chefs.”
Polczynski’s face lights up when she describes the other unique features of this year’s gala. “There will be a vodka bar in the Food Bank’s 70,000 cubic foot refrigeration unit,” she explains. “And we will have an exit party at the end of the night with handcrafted desserts! The guests are going to love it,” beams Polczynski.
Foodtasia: Chefs, Cork & Craft Participating Chefs
Chef Co-chair Jonathan Hale The Prado
Chef Co-chair Sara Polcynski Seasoned Plates
Chef Dave Abella West Steak & Seafood
Chef Jonathan Bautista Georges At The Cove
Chef Nick Brune Eco Caters
Chef Gina Freize Venissimo Cheese
Chef Victor Jiminez Cowboy Star
Chef Accrusio Lota Solare Ristorante
Chef Joe Magnanelli Cucina Urbana
Chef John Medal The Patio Group
Chef Mario Medina Bernini’s Bistro
Chef Anthony Pascale Saiko Sake & Sushi Bar
Chef Brian Redzikowski Kettner Exchange
Chef Vaughn Vargas UCSD
James Floros, San Diego Food Bank CEO said, “We are honored to have two of our community’s most outstanding chefs lead our chef committee. Chef Sara is not only very talented, but she also gives back in a big way through her volunteer work at the Food Bank and at Olivewood Gardens. She uses her expertise and passion for food to help those less fortunate in our community.”
“We also incredibly grateful to Chef Jonathan Hale for donating his time, talent, and organizational expertise to the gala. He led the team of chefs at our gala last year, and it was a huge success. Chef Jonathan gives back to the community through his volunteer work at the Food Bank and is an invaluable member of our Leadership Council. He is widely respected in the industry for his accomplishments and as innovator for the Cohn Restaurant Group,” explains Floros.
The gala’s theme, Chefs, Cork & Craft, will be a celebration of local, seasonal, fantastic food from San Diego’s best chefs. It will be a foodie extravaganza! The goal is to have a welcoming atmosphere that marries class and style, so the food just really shines through – the colors and the flavors. They we will have chefs from all over the county – especially North County with its very happening culinary scene.
For tickets and sponsorship information visit: www.SanDiegoFoodBank.org/Foodtasia or call Sandy Rabourne at (858) 863-5142.
