What’s Cooking

By Richard Mineards   |   April 12, 2018
Some of Family Service Agency's Honorary Committee are sheriff Bill Brown, Donna Brown, Michael Cooney with event chair Marni Cooney; Jill and John Bishop; and host sponsors Chana and Jim Jackson (photo by Priscilla)

There was certainly food for thought when the 119-year-old Family Service Agency hosted its fourth annual Cooking Up Dreams gala at the Carriage and Western Art Museum, attracting 280 guests and raising around $100,000 for the nonprofit’s work, including counseling students at schools impacted by the recent disasters, providing basic-needs support to displaced workers and their families and helping relocate long-term care residents.

The boffo bash, featuring a culinary competition between local leading chefs from a number of Eden by the Beach noshetarias, including Casa Blanca, Finch & Fork, Les Marchands Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro, the FisHouse, Sama Sama Kitchen, Convivo, First & Oak, the La Cumbre Country Club, and Industrial Eats, was emceed by former school principal Kris Bergstrom with Marni Cooney chairing the event.

Judges were KEYT-TV anchor Joe Buttitta, Edible Magazine editor Krista Harris and food blogger Emily Nordee, with the culinary winner Renaud’s, which landed both the judges trophy and the People’s Choice award.

Among the gourmands attending the foodie fete were KEYT-TV meteorologist Kelsey Gerckens, sheriff Bill Brown, former mayor Sheila Lodge, Randy Weiss, Mahri Kerley, and Roger Aceves.

Attending FSA Board member Mario Barfield; representing the FiShouse Restaurant is Edward Suer; FSA Board member Roberta Heter; from the Casa Blanca Restaurant is Graciela Charles; and chef Weston Richards of Les Marchands (photo by Priscilla)
FSA’s maitre d’ sponsor Bob Manning, Lisa Brabo, executive director Family Service Agency; Susan Manning, Maitre d’ sponsor; Shirley Ann Hurley, restaurateur sponsor; and of the honorary committee assembly member Monique Limon (photo by Priscilla)
Chef sponsor is Union Bank with Vince Caballero; honorary committee chair Pascale Beale; Thomas Comte from Renaud’s serving favorite pastry to a blushing Mahri Kerley; with former board members Stephanie Wilson and Jonathan Wang (photo by Priscilla)
 

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