February 4, 2020 (Naples, Fla.) – The Culinary & Hospitality Education Foundation of Southwest Florida (CHEF) Board President Taryn Cafiero announced that, “due to the amazing commitment of CHEF Board Members, generous community supporters and donors, the organization’s signature fundraising event held January 6, 2020, raised $120,000 for student scholarships, doubling the amount raised in 2019.“
A new twist to this year’s event was the “Culinary CHEF Showdown,” a friendly competition between CHEF’s 2020 honoree, 21 Spices by Chef Asif owner Asif Syed, and challenger, Aielli Restaurant Group’s Corporate Chef Jason Goddard. Over 120 guests enjoyed watching the lively culinary competition on stage at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples. The chefs had to use Mystery Basket ingredients to create a show-stopping appetizer dish in 30-minutes, which was judged by four industry professionals on 1) use of Mystery Basket ingredients; 2) creativity and innovation; 3) presentation; and 4) taste. In the end, Chef Asif edged out Chef Jason by only 6 of 100 points! Both chefs were presented with Certificates of Excellence and Chef Asif was presented with CHEF’s “Golden Whisk.” Event judges were Chef Melissa Donahue of Sweet Melissa’s Café on Sanibel Island, Beirne Brown, hospitality and wine educator at Florida Gulf Coast University’s School of Resort & Hospitality Management, Guy Clark and Rafael Feliciano, founders of Food Idea Marketing Group, Sizzle Restaurant Week Southwest Florida, and Where to Eat 239 social media network.
Bleu Provence co-owner and sommelier Jacques Cariot hosted the pre-event VIP Wine Tasting that evening. Chef Brian Roland of Crave Culinaire/Venue Naples served as Emcee and assisted auctioneer Scott Robertson with the Live Auction featuring private, catered wine dinners, epicurean travel adventures, and resort stays. The Culinary CHEF Showdown “friendly competition” concept proved so popular, that two guests donated $1,000 each to be judges for the 2021 CHEF event! Some of Southwest Florida’s most highly acclaimed restaurants and resorts, along with generous private donors, provided very special Silent Auction items.
CHEF Scholarship Applications are open now and the form is available here on CHEF’s website. The deadline to submit applications for consideration is February 29, 2020. Scholarships and Grants are administered through a donor-advised fund at the Collier County Community Foundation. CHEF Board members will convene in mid-March to determine the final amount of scholarships and grants to be awarded once all submissions have been reviewed. Since CHEF’s inception in 2001, the Foundation has raised and awarded over $300,000, allowing students, and those returning to educational programs, to pursue their degrees and careers in the culinary arts and hospitality industries.
SAVE THE DATE for the 2021 Culinary CHEF Showdown. The event will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021, at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples. For more information, contact CHEF Board member, Beth Oliver, 239-985-7516. For details on CHEF’s mission, visit ChefSWFL.org.
