by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
More than 80 local celebrities will reunite at the 20th Celebrity Chefs Tasting Luncheon and Silent Auction set for next Thursday at the Osborn Center. Guests will be served by familiar local faces, from Sheriff John Rutherford to Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver.
Proceeds generated by the luncheon go to the Salvation Army, whose Jacksonville Women’s Auxiliary organizes the annual event. The silent auction will include a variety of items, from designer dolls to a private, guided tour of Rome. Sally Evans, who chaired the first luncheon, said the event has come a long way in two decades.
“(The first year), we tried to get as much expert advice as we could, because we knew nothing,” said Evans, adding that volunteers even blew up their own balloons. “The members were dizzy by the time the thing started.”
According to Evans, the first luncheon raised about $10,000; last year $107,000 was raised and the event’s lifetime proceeds total over $1 million. She said the luncheon has turned into a popular tradition.
“It’s just evolved into refining every year, making it a little better than it was last year,” said Evans. “Each year we think, ‘Are we getting worn out?’ But you can’t argue with success.”
Maj. Karol Seiler, liaison between the Salvation Army and the Women’s Auxiliary, said the money raised by the event will fund several projects. The main goal is to purchase a van for the Child Development Center. Other highlights include scholarships for homeless children and a computer lab for the Adult Rehabilitation Center.
The Salvation Army’s cost effective use of funds is one of the reasons people choose to participate, said Dee Boutwell, president of the Women’s Auxiliary.
“Every penny that you give goes to something good,” said Boutwell.
Luther Coggin, chairman of Coggin Automotive Group, agreed with Boutwell’s assessment. He said he donates and participates as a celebrity chef because of the volunteers’ commitment to helping others.
“(I admire) their ability and desire to sacrifice and spend their lives doing nothing but helping other people,” said Coggin.
Carl Cannon, publisher of The Florida Times-Union, had similar reasons for volunteering as a celebrity chef. He said he attends the event to support the charity, and his wife volunteers with the Women’s Auxiliary.
“It’s a lot of fun, a lot of people,” said Cannon. “I usually go every year, whether I’m a celebrity chef or not.”
Jeannie Blaylock, an anchor at Ch. 12/25, said she’s looking forward to being a celebrity chef at this year’s luncheon.
“It really does have the feel of a reunion,” said Blaylock. “Just think of all the recipes they had to go through ... You know you’re getting the best of the best.”
The 18 most popular recipes were chosen for the final menu, such as chilled tomato-lime bisque and oriental salad. Blaylock’s “Super 12 Brownies” are on the menu. She said her mother created the recipe, which was named for Ch. 12. Blaylock described them as decadent, with melted mini marshmallows and frosting on top.
Four or five chefs will be assigned to individual booths, with one dish served per booth. Each guest will receive a cookbook containing all the recipes from previous years. Evans said the luncheon is all about tasting a variety of foods, so people can meander and chat without waiting in line.
Preparation for the event can be more rigorous than most might think. Judy Noon, co-chair for this year’s luncheon, said chef selection usually begins about 10 months in advance.
“We all butt heads and say, ‘Who’s new in town? Who’s a mover and a shaker?’“ said Noon.
The Women’s Auxiliary casts votes for chef selection and to pick the best recipes for the menu. Noon said they also hold tastings to tweak each recipe, sometimes adding salt or replacing certain ingredients. Alcoholic beverages, for example, are against the Salvation Army’s beliefs.
The idea for the first luncheon was suggested by Darleen Unger, who arranged the designer dolls for this year’s silent auction. She said she’d read about a similar event with politicians and actors in Washington, D.C.
“It’s a great way to honor the business leaders and celebrities in our city,” said Unger. “I just find Jacksonville a very giving city ... I think that’s unique.”
For more information or tickets, call 301-4841 or visit the Salvation Army at 328 N. Ocean St.