There are a couple of upcoming charity events in Kansas City that I’m helping to organize, and I’d like to tell you about them.

One of them – the Harvesters Chefs Classic – I have helped organize for a few years now.  The other one, the Child Protection Center’s Cook for Courage event, is a new one that I helped create this year.

CPC COOK FOR COURAGE

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My sister is a television news reporter in Kansas City. She encounters sad stories every day. Even sadder, many of them involve children. So, my sister joined the board of the Child Protection Center (CPC), Kansas City’s nationally accredited child advocacy center that provides forensic interviews for children from Jackson, Cass, and Lafayette counties who are victims of sexual or severe physical abuse, neglect, or who have witnessed homicide or extreme violence. She and her fellow committee members asked me to join the planning committee for their first annual keystone fundraising event – Cook for Courage. I was happy help.

On Sunday, May 18, 2014, six Kansas City chefs will fire up their smokers for a barbecue rib competition.  Each chef will also prepare a side dish.  I, along with former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green; Robb Heineman, CEO of Sporting Club; and Danny O’Neil, owner The Roasterie, will serve as local “celebrity” judges, along with the highest bidder for a fifth guest judge’s seat.  Please come and support this great cause that truly doesn’t get enough attention.  For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the CPC website.

 

RYAN BRAZEAL
(novel)

MICHAEL CORVINO
(The American Restaurant)

COLBY GARRELTS
(bluestem and rye)

HOWARD HANNA
(The Rieger Grill & Exchange and ça va)

PATRICK RYAN
(Port Fonda)

CELINA TIO
(Julian, Collection, and The Belfry)

Here is a promotional video for the event.

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HARVESTERS CHEFS CLASSIC

 

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

Every year, the chef of The American Restaurant (now Michael Corvino) 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), Matthias Merges (yusho), Kelly English (Iris), Nancy Olson (then pastry chef of Gramercy Tavern), and Vinny Dotolo (Animal) to Kansas City.

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

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This year, we are pleased to welcome the following chefs to Kansas City for the 2014 Chefs Classic, which will be held on Sunday, June 29 at The American Restaurant (for reservations, please visit the Harvester’s website):

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JONATHAN JUSTUS
(Passed Hors d’Oeuvres)
(Justus Drugstore; Smithville, Missouri)

RYAN BRAZEAL
(Novel; Kansas City, Missouri)

MICHAEL CORVINO 
(The American Restaurant; Kansas City, Missouri)

COLBY GARRELTS
(bluestem and rye; Kansas City, Missouri and Leawood, Kansas)

DEBBIE GOLD
(Formely of The American Restaurant; Kansas City, Missouri)

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GERARD CRAFT
(niche and Pasteria; St. Louis, Missouri)

GAVIN KAYSEN
(Soon to be at Merchant; Minneapolis, Minnesota)

STEPHANIE PRIDA
(Manresa; Los Gatos, California)

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