Celebrity Chef Cook-off and Tailgate Party Fundraiser for Gifts of Love

Passion and expertise are the key ingredients for the fun-filled, fast-paced culinary showdown of Ready… Set…Cook! to benefit Gifts of Love. The event will be held on Friday, Aug. 3 at Belle Terrace at Avon Old Farms (1 Nod Road, Avon) from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm. 

Guests will watch four teams comprised of a Celebrity, a Chef, and a Sponsor compete against each other as they prepare two dishes within a 45- minute time limit using a basket of ingredients, including a “mystery ingredient” from the Gifts of Love food pantry. 

Returning chef and last year's winner, Michael Lee of Max’s Oyster Bar will be cooking up a storm to defend his title. Matt Cormier’s team from The Meat House of Avon will give its culinary skills a whirl, and Van Hurd, whose background includes competing on Hell’s Kitchen Season VI, as well as the illustrious Executive Chef of The Society Room, Chip Miller, will also try to wow the judges.

The theme of this year’s event is “Tailgate Party.”  To that end, former New England Patriot, Tebucky Jones, UCONN football star Andre Dixon, and former Hartford Whaler Bob Crawford will each join a cooking team and amp up the competition!  Will the rivalry between football and hockey be settled on this field?!

The Judges’ Panel includes Chef Kevin Cottle, Corporate Chef of Jordan's Catering; Maryellen Fillo, Java Columnist for The Hartford Courant; Jim Bucko, Managing Partner of Riverhouse Properties; and Gifts of Love Executive Director, Diana Goode.  Judges will taste, critique and ultimately award one team the title of Gifts of Love "Top Chef!" Guests attending the event will have the opportunity to win a spot working side by side with their favorite chef.

Sponsors include The Meat House of Avon, "Your Neighborhood Butcher," the Community Farm of Simsbury, and many local businesses in the Farmington Valley, including The Marriott Residence Inn of Avon, Fitzgerald’s Foods of Simsbury, The Hair Loft of Avon, and Larsen’s Ace Hardware in Canton.

The event includes tailgate party-themed hors d’oeuvres and food stations with a gourmet twist, a complimentary wine tasting courtesy of Avon Wine & Spirits, a micro-brew tasting by City Steam Brewery, the cooking showdown, delicious desserts, cash bar, as well as a tea cup/silent auction and live music by OnCall band.

Tickets are $60 per person and may be purchased online at www.giftsoflovect.org.  Click on the “Donate Now” button, enter the cost for the total number of tickets being purchased in the "Donate" field, then scroll down and check the “Ready Set Cook” ticket box.  Tickets are also available at Gifts of Love (35 East Main St., Old Avon Village, Avon, 860-676-2323); Hair Loft (136 Simsbury Rd, Riverdale Farms, Building 15, Avon, 860-674-9460); Belle Terrace at Avon Old Farms (1 Nod Rd, Avon, 860-404-5051). 

Tickets: $60 per person. On sale starting July 2nd at Gifts of Love (35 East Main St., Avon), The Hair Loft (Riverdale Farms, 136 Simsbury Rd, Avon), and Belle Terrace (1 Nod Road, Avon), or online at www.giftsoflovect.org. Click on the "donate now" button, type in the amount of the tickets that you want to purchase in the "Donate" field, then scroll down and check the Ready Set Cook ticket box.

The mission of Gifts of Love is to help meet the basic needs of individuals and families experiencing a temporary financial crisis so they can achieve or maintain self-sufficiency. The organization, located in Avon, provides food and clothing, household items and furniture to individuals and families facing a financial crisis due to a variety of circumstances. Gifts of Love helps clients meet their families’ most basic needs – food on the table, a winter coat, or a bed to sleep in – and enable them to focus on putting their lives back in order and regaining their independence.  For more information about Gifts of Love, please visit www.giftsoflovect.org, www.facebook.com/giftsoflovect, or call 860-676-2323.

Submitted by Gifts of Love.