Local restauranteurs, chefs and community stand together to raise money for CCS
Morgan M. Hurley | Editor Downtown News
The 8th annual Chef Showdown has moved its utensils from Downtown to Point Loma this year, to the NTC Promenade in Liberty Station.
The event benefits the Center for Community Solutions (CCS), a local nonprofit that offers support for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse.
Founded in 1969, CCS assists more than 30,000 men, women and children annually.
The local nonprofit hosts the only Rape Crisis Center in the city, which also includes a bilingual crisis helpline, hospital and court accompaniment services, and also provides a 24-hour emergency shelter and a transitional housing facility for those affected.
The Chef Showdown is scheduled for 6 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 13. It will be conducted in an “Iron Chef” style fashion, and hosted by local celebrity, Sam “the Cooking Guy” Zien.
Tickets are $125 or $200 for VIP and include the chef competition, tastes from more than 25 sponsoring restaurants, samples of a variety of wines, and a live bid auction.
Organizers hope the event will raise at least $100,000 for CCS.
Top local chefs competing this year will be: Amy Dibiase from The Shores in La Jolla; Dawn Parks from Wild Thyme Co.; Joe Magnanelli from Cucina Urbana in Bankers Hill; Paul McCabe from Delicias in Rancho Santa Fe; Bobby Mariner from Viejas; Hanis Cavin from the Carnitas Snack Shack in North Park; Chef Matt Gordon of Urban Solace also in North Park; Rachel King of Searsucker Downtown; Anthony Sinsay from Burlap in Del Mar; Augie Saucedo from Donovan’s Prime Seafood Downtown; Scotty Wagner from Chi Cuisine; and Chris O’Donell from La Villa in Little Italy.
Participating chefs will be divided into teams, given a secret ingredient, and challenged to create eight different dishes for the competition.
Judges for the event this year will include Chef Bernard Guillas from The Marine Room in La Jolla, Downtown Restaurateur Ingrid Croce, Uptown Restaurateur Joe Bussalachi, and La Jolla Restaurateur Michelle Lerach.
Two additional judge positions will be auctioned off to guests during the live auction portion of the evening.
For reservations and tickets, call 858-272-5777, ext 120.
