Chefs to compete for Top Chef honor at charity event celebrating fall’s
bounty
Proceeds
of 9th Annual Valley
Vine & Harvest Throwdown will benefit Canvas Health’s mental health
services
Lake Elmo, Minnesota - On Sunday,
Oct. 8, 2017, seven local chefs will take part in an epic culinary competition
with the goal of raising money for local mental health programs, substance use
programs, and Minnesota’s suicide prevention phone lines.
The Annual Valley Vine & Harvest Throwdown, to be held at the Lake Elmo Inn
Event Center, will celebrate nine years of benefiting Canvas Health, an
Oakdale-based nonprofit. Each competing chef will prepare a mini-entrée made
with at least one local ingredient and paired with a fine wine selected by the
event’s Wine Ambassadors, Andy Kass and Bill Abrahamson. After enjoying each
dish, guests will vote for their favorite to receive the coveted Top Chef of
the Valley award.
This year’s competition boasts a diverse group of competing
chefs: Chef Angela Verrastro, Angelina’s Kitchen; Chef Ron Bohnert, Danny’s Bar
& Grill; Chef Paul LaPean, The Nova Restaurant & Wine Bar; Chef Maggie
Wescott, Rivertown Inn; Chef Angelo Montes, Sole Mio Ristorante; Chef
Justin Neubauer, Tamarack Tap Room; and Chef Jeffrey Lundmark, Wilder Scratch
Kitchen.
In addition to feasting on mini-entrées and sampling fine
wines, guests will have the opportunity to bid on unique live and silent
auction items, including private chef dinners and a week at a house in France.
They’ll also be able to purchase a bottle of fine wine from the wine wall.
Prior to the main chef competition event, reigning Top Chef
of the Valley Chef John Schiltz from Lake Elmo Inn will host an intimate VIP
Grand Cru Party, where he will discuss the preparation of foie gras.
There will also be an exciting sabrage tutorial. Sabrage is a technique for
opening a champagne bottle with a saber, used for ceremonial occasions. The
wielder slides the saber along the body of the bottle to break the top of the
neck away, leaving the neck of the bottle open and ready to pour.
“Being at Valley Vine is like watching an exciting chef’s
competition show on TV, only better because the delicious dishes they create
become your entrée for the night—as a guest, you get to partake in everything,”
said Matt Eastwood, Canvas Health CEO. “More importantly, your support of this
event enables Canvas Health to continue casting lifelines of hope to people
struggling in our community. We encourage everyone to come out and have a great
time.”
2017 Valley Vine & Harvest Throwdown sponsors include:
Berwald Roofing Company, Inc.; Renewal by Andersen; 3M; Arkco Sales; Mercury
Trading Company; RBC Wealth Management; Eckberg Lammers, P.C.; Lake Elmo Bank;
Rivertown Inn; Deborah Zuelke; The Credit Department; First State Bank &
Trust; Marketing Incentive Resources, Inc.; Ahola, Mack & Associates, Ltd.;
M.J.’s Contract Appliance, Inc.
Tickets for this event may be purchased at the website here.
