by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
A dollar doesn’t really help silence a rumbling stomach when dining out, but that same dollar will allow people to sample food at about 55 different restaurants gathered at the Avenues Mall Sunday for the 10th annual Caring Chefs charity event.
The $60 ticket price gives attendees access to some of the best restaurants on the First Coast all under one roof Sunday from 7–9:30 p.m. Ticket price includes admission, food, drink and live entertainment.
The event not only benefits growling stomachs throughout Northeast Florida, but also its main beneficiary, Children’s Home Society of Florida(CHS).
“I met Nanette (Vallejos) when I first moved down here and she told me about working with the Children’s Home Society and I told her ‘If ever I could help (with the Children’s Home Society).’” said Omni Hotels Executive Chef Rick Eplawy. “She told me about the Caring Chefs event and we have been supporting it since 2005.”
Caring Chefs takes place near the Omni’s “Flavors of the World” promotion and Eplawy takes a menu item to the charity event each year. This year’s offering will be from France.
The event has been held continuously for nearly a quarter of a century and has raised more than $2 million for abused and neglected children. An added attraction for this year’s event will be the opportunity to win a real one-carat diamond in the “Champagne and Diamonds” contest.
Caring Chefs started in 1984 when the CHS Board of Directors decided to invite 16 of the community’s best restaurants to the former Grand Boulevard Mall.
The event was originally called “Food Fare Extraordinaire and Auction” and the organization raised $35,000 during its first night. The number of participating restaurants has grown along with the money raised. Last year’s event raised $165,000 and Sunday’s event will feature about 55 restaurants.
“We were invited last year. It is a great charity and we always have a good time at the event,” said Cafe Nola Chef Kathy Collins. “We had people come in for dinner after the event also, so we are able to contribute to a great charity and also grow our business.”
Chartered in Jacksonville in 1902, CHS is one of Florida’s oldest private nonprofit organizations providing support services to children and families. Some of the services offered include adoption, search and reunion, foster care, safe havens for children, pregnancy counseling and mentoring.
Over the last 24 years, the organization’s annual fundraiser has allowed it to care for 10,049 children in its family-style group homes, place 8,317 children in temporary foster homes, place 886 children in permanent homes through its adoption services. About 90,000 children and families have utilized CHS programs.
“All those who participate in Caring Chefs – sponsors, restaurants, patrons and volunteers – have helped thousands and thousands of children. Since the venue, food, beverages and advertising are donated, Caring Chefs’ event costs are extremely low with 90 percent of sponsorship contributions and 100 percent of ticket proceeds going directly to helping children in our care,” according to a statement released by Nannette Vallejos, Caring Chefs event coordinator and Children’s Home Society of Florida Development Specialist.
2008 Caring Chefs Restaurants
500 South, Anthony’s Gourmet Catering, Aqua Grill, Athens Café, The Augustine Grille, Azurea at One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa, bb’s, Bella’s Bistro & Martini Bar, Biscottis, Bistro Aix, Blackstone Grille, Blue Bamboo Restaurant and Wine Bar, Café Nola @ MOCA, Campeche Bay Cantina, The Capital Grille, China Mist Tea Company, Cobblestones Restaurants, Crabcake Factory, Dave & Buster’s, Edgewood Bakery, FCCJ Culinary Arts, Galangal Thai Restaurant, Genesis Café & Catering Inc., The Grape, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, Havana Jax & Cuba Libre Bar, Jacksonville Golf & Country Club, Juliette’s @ Omni Hotel, Lemongrass Restaurant, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Mai Oui! Gourmet, The Melting Pot, Morton’s the Steakhouse, North Beach Bistro, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Pusser’s Caribbean Grill, Ragtime, The Reef, River City Brewing Co., Rollin’ Rita’s Advanced Party Solutions, Roy’s Jacksonville Beach, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, San Jose Country Club, Santioni’s at Sawgrass, Seven Bridges Grille, Starbucks Coffee Co., Sticky Fingers, The Sun Dog, Timuquana Country Club, Trellises at Hyatt Regency , Jacksonville, The Twisted Martini, Twisted Sisters, Urban Flats Ponte Vedra, Zaitoon Mediterranean Grill
356-2466