kansas city: 2013 chefs classic…

The Chefs Classic, held in late June, raises money for Harvester’s, a food bank in the greater Kansas City area. I serve on the event’s planning committee.

Every year, hosting chef Debbie Gold and I invite three guest chefs from Kansas City, and three from abroad. In the years that I’ve sat on the committee, I’ve helped invite chefs like Sean Brock (Husk and McCrady’s), Curtis Duffy (then at Avenues, now at Grace), Shawn Gawle (then pastry chef at corton, now at saison), William Bradley (Addison at the Grand Del Mar), Michael Laiskonis (then pastry chef at le Bernardin), and Matthias Merges (yusho) to Kansas City.  Locally, Gold has invited chefs like Ted Habiger (Room 39),  Howard Hanna (Rieger Grill & Exchange), Carl Thorne-Thomsen (story), and the late John McClure (formerly of Starker’s Restaurant).

You’ll find photos of last year’s dinner here.

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This year, we are pleased to welcome the following six chefs to Kansas City for the 2013 Chefs Classic, which will be held on Sunday, June 23 at The American Restaurant (for reservations, please visit the Harvester’s website):

Michael Beard
(715 Mass; Lawrence, Kansas)

Patrick Ryan
(Port Fonda; Kansas City, Missouri)

Todd Schulte
(Genessee Royale Bistro and
Happy Gillis Café & Hangout; Kansas City, Missouri)

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Vinny Dotolo
(Animal; Los Angeles, California)

Kelly English
(Iris; Memphis, Tennessee)

Nancy Olson
(Pastry Chef of Gramercy Tavern; New York, New York)

Past honorary chairs of the Harvesters Chefs Classic have included Clark Hunt, Chairman of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Joe and Carol Suhor.  This year, Carla and Danny O’Neill, owners of The Roasterie, will serve as honorary chairs of the event.

Photo: Chefs William Bradley and Matthias Merges prepping for the 2012 Harvesters Chefs Classic in the kitchen at The American Restaurant; Kansas City, Missouri.