The chefs were rocking and the music was cooking Monday evening at Fayetteville Town Center. The third annual Top Chefs and Rock Stars fundraiser to benefit Peace at Home Family Shelter drew approximately 500 supporters who enjoyed samples from competing chefs and bid on bands in the live auction.
The family shelter just finished its first year in its new location near the Fayetteville/Springdale border. The new building has nine rooms, up three from the old one, and let them increase their resident capacity from 14 to 35.
Last year the shelter served 1,800 victims of domestic violence, 1,300 of whom were children. Development Director Amy Michaud told me that this year, Peace at Home has served approximately 70 percent more clients.
Music shoppers had their pick of blues, rock, folk, dance and party bands as they competed for performance bookings in the live auction.
Bands donating gigs to help the family shelter included Take Cover, Ultra Suede, T.J. Scarlett, 3 Penny Acre, Oreo Blue, Effron White and Shannon Wurst.
Those in the chewable challenge included chefs from Herman’s Rib House, Greenhouse Grille, Cafe Rue Orleans, Ella’s, Bordino’s, Bliss Cupcake Cafe, Shelby Lynn’s, Mezza Luna, Silver Joe’s and Pinnacle, Fayetteville and Springdale Country Clubs.
Case Dighero of Soul Restaurant and Lounge, Suzie Stephens of Nibbles Academy of Cooking and Kay Wright, president of Food Talk, were judges for the culinary contest.
Winners and dishes were:
Chef William Lyle, Ella’s, appetizer - Ozark Mountain Sushi Roll - and entree - Duck Vindaloo; Chrissy Sanderson, Bordino’s, soup/salad - Tomato Soup Martini; Shelly Cassar, Bliss Cupcake Cafe, dessert - Marshmallow Brownie Cupcake.
The People’s Choice Award went to Ralph Edmonds of Pinnacle Country Club.
Proponents of Peace at Home included Doreen and Fred Vorsanger, Deborah Thomas, Susan and David Schroeder, Allyson and Mike Malone, Adella and Gary Gray, Gail Eads, Jill and Taylor Tompkins, Leslie and Ted Belden, Missy Kincaid, Dick Trammel, James Keenan and Tanya Mims.
I joined fellow members of the Washington Regional Friends of Hospice special events committee Tuesday evening at the Fayetteville home of Suzie Stephens and Jim Hatfield.
The group was celebrating record-breaking attendance at its two signature fundraisers - the Garden Party in May and the Autumn Brunch in November.
Dorothy and Al Hanby will host the 19th annual Garden Party in May 2010 at their Carley Road home in Springdale.
Suzie’s menu for us included beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce and angel biscuits, salmon and capers, crab dip, fresh mozzarella and pesto bruschetta, asparagus and hollandaise, boursin cheese, herbed monkey bread with tomato bruschetta and brie en croute with walnuts and apricots.
Those celebrating hospice successes included Athina McLendon, Joyce Stafford, Robin and Jim Selman, Amy Driver, Helen Lewis, Denise Garner, Janet and Judge Jimm Hendren, Beverly Block and Greg House, Pat and John Marcy and Martha McBride and Marvin Singleton.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas!
OUR TOWN COLUMNIST CARIN SCHOPPMEYER CAN BE REACHED BY E-MAILING CSCHOPPMEYER@ NWAONLINE.COM OR BY PHONING 872-5049.
Our Town, Pages 15 on 12/20/2009