I will be attending this event as a media guest. All opinions expressed belong to me.
I’m excited to be a guest at a great event benefiting one of my favorite local non-profits – Gleaners Community Food Bank. This foodie event sounds like the perfect opportunity for a date night or to gather girlfriends and head out for a great cause!
In case you aren’t familiar, Gleaners operates five distribution centers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties and provides food to 499 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other agencies throughout southeastern Michigan. In 2017, Gleaners distributed more than 42 million pounds of food to neighbors in need. On average, Gleaners distributes the equivalent of 96,178 meals each day and provides nourishing food and nutrition education to 171,000 children a year. Every dollar donated provides three meals and 97 cents of every donated dollar goes to food and food programs.
They do fantastic work for our community and families – period!
IRON CHEF WITH GLEANERS
To raise funding to feed our neighbors in need, Gleaners is hosting an Iron Chef benefit, which is now in its 14th year.
This year’s competition will be held on Thursday, August 9, 2018 and 2017 Iron Chef Champion Chef Craig Myrand, Culinary Director for Adam Merkel Restaurants in Howell will defend his title against Chef Ryan Louwaert, Executive Chef at Bourbons in Brighton.
Just like the popular TV show, the competition will challenge each chef to prepare an appetizer, entrée and dessert utilizing a secret ingredient in each dish. In addition to creating food for the competition, both chefs prepare dishes for public tasting – voted on by Iron Chef guests. The chef that garners the most votes earns bragging rights as the 2018 Iron Chef Fan Favorite.
Additionally, the Iron Chef Mixology Competition will match-up 2016 and ‘17 Mixology Champion Toni Pomranky from Bourbons restaurant {Brighton} against challenger Caitlin Wilkinson, from Diamonds Steak and Seafood {Howell}, in a furious five-minute face-off. The cocktail connoisseurs are tasked with creating an award-worthy beverage that, as in the chef’s competition, utilizes a secret ingredient.
During the competition, patrons will have a chance to bid for a Judge’s seat at Iron Chef 2019 and three lucky patrons will get a seat at the table by entering the Tasting Chance with a nominal donation.
Guests at the event will enjoy a variety of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and beverages from local purveyors and brewers. A fantastic silent auction will also be available.
Steve Garagiola, WDIV Local 4 News Anchor, will serve as moderator and Detroit News Columnist Neal Rubin will serve as commentator.
This year’s judges include: Jody Brunori, Iron Chef Champion 2007 & 2008, Executive Chef at The Laundry; Kate Lawson, Food Writer; Renee Chodkowski, Host of WHMI’s “The Great Foodini,” and Dalton Brennan, 2017 Guest Judge winning bidder.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the competition begins at 7 p.m. Last year, more than 600 guests helped Gleaners’ Iron Chef Competition raise more than $100,000 {!!!} — enough to provide over 300,000 meals.
TICKETS
Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at www.ironchefevent.org or at these locations:
- Gleaners Livingston Distribution Center, 5924 Sterling Drive, Howell 48843
- Bordine’s Nursery, 6347 Grand River Ave., Brighton 48114
For more information, visit Gleaners here: www.gcfb.org.
May the best chef and mixologist win! Make sure to follow me on Instagram at @LaurenWeber84 to see live action from the event!
What are your favorite local charitable events?
[…] past summer I had the privilege of watching Diamonds compete and win in an Iron Chef event benefitting Gleaners, and I loved the teamwork that went into it. They have a fantastic team of chefs, and it truly […]