Commentary

Social events treat the taste buds

Barbara Hendel.

Barbara Hendel.

Gourmet foods were the highlight of recent charity events.

From left, Peter and Colleen Demczuk, Allan and Susan Block, and Barbara Steele during the Chefs for children fund-raiser.

Chef's for Children, a river event celebrating creativity and care, was Aug. 29 at the home of Barbara Steele and Alan Kimpel in Perrysburg. It was their last hurrah for hosting the event. Honorary chairmen Susan and Allan Block, chairman of The Blade's parent company Block Communications Inc., announced they are excited to host the event at their Tantara home next year.

John and Ann Meier visit the elephant habitat during the Feast with the Beasts.

The effort to support ProMedica Children's Hospital and the Arts Commission surpassed its goal of $500,000.

PHOTO GALLERY: Chefs for Children, Feast with the Beasts

The dinner hour at the "Feast with the Beasts" at the Toledo Zoo on August 23, 2013.

The live auction by Pamela Rose was spirited and featured a Bordeaux, France, vacation at Chateau Gamage; a Mercedes car for a week in Germany with a tour of the Mercedes plant from Vin Devers; a Jamaican vacation at Margy and Scott Trumbull's home; dinners, art, wine, and more.

Great foods by chefs impressed everyone with the presentations and tastes. Dishes included chilled corn chowder, glazed brussel sprouts, BLT salad, lettuce wraps, lamb chops, hake fish, salmon, scallops, sweet potato s'mores, lobster macaroni and cheese, and desserts.

Guest chefs included Celina Tio of Julian Restaurant, Kansas City; Sameh Wadi of Saffron Restaurant, Minneapolis; Elizabeth Falkner of Corvo Bianco, Manhattan, and David Posey of Blackbird Restaurant, Chicago.

Local chefs from the following restaurants participated: Artisanal Pastries, Beirut/Byblos, Burger Bar 419/LaScola, Chef Marcel Fine Catering, Cynthia's Fine Catering, Element 112, Georgio's International Cafe, Java Sensations, Koto Buki, Mancy's Bluewater Grille/Italian/Steakhouse, Nick & Jimmy's/T-Town Boys, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Revolution Grille, Rosie's Italian Grille, and Stella's Restaurant and Bar. Dr. Tim Valko made sinful chocolate ravioli's.

Thanks go to event chairmen Rita Mansour and Eric Fankhauser and their committee, the sponsors, and the chefs.

Among the attendees were George and Leslie Chapman, Betsy and Tom Brady, Richard Hylant, Jeannie Hylant, Kim and Bob LaClair, Keith and Susan Burwell, Laurie and Jeff Jaffe, Lisa and Frank Barone, Trish and Gary Yunker, Mike and Carol Anderson, Terry and Denise Benton, Geof and Molly Meyer, Bill and Pam Davis, Dan Cory and Elaine Canning, Jim and Kay Murray, Marianne Ballas, and Paula and Bill Fall.

The weather was perfect for Feast with the Beasts presented by PNC Aug. 23 at the Toledo Zoo.

The 130 guests sipped cocktails and nibbled tasty hors d'oeuvres such as Billionaires Bacon, Thai spring rolls and lamb lollipops as they saw the baby wallabies, a woma python, and a blue-tongued skink.

The live auction by Jerry Anderson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11 included various party packages at the zoo. A total of $50,000 was raised.

The committee included Susan Allan Block, Deborah Born, Ann Sanford, Kim Kearns, Toby Cardone, Elizabeth Foley, Susan Conda, Mary Ellen Pisanelli, and Sandra Hylant.

Among the guests, who received Jan Pugh-designed plates as parting gifts, were Tom and Karen Baither, Linda and Jerry Phillips, John and Karen Yark, Beth and Ted Bowman, Dave and Shelly McMacken, Riaz and Virginia Chaudhary, Debbie and Randy Ernsthausen, Greg and Rebecca Shope, Christy and Spence Stone, Sharon Simmons and Ron Coffman, Ann Sanford and Bryan Smith, and Marna and Suresh Ramnath.