26th Annual Festival of Chefs
Benefiting Easter Seals’ Culinary Arts High School
Event co-chairs, board members, committee members, chefs, wine suppliers, artists, in kind donors, volunteers and friends, Easter Seals South Florida raised over $112,000 to benefit the Easter Seals South Florida’s Culinary Arts High School, a vocational training program for students ages 16 through 22 with autism and other disabilities at the 26th Annual Festival of Chefs at Nikki Beach, Miami Beach. A special thanks to Nikki Beach for generously hosting the event and creating such beautiful ambiance.
Guests enjoyed an evening of multi-course gourmet samplings served by some of South Florida’s most popular Chefs, delicious fine wines, a signature drink from William Wolf Pecan Bourbon, and beer from Daddy Brews, along with a silent auction of original paintings, sculptures, multimedia artworks, luxurious vacations, upscale merchandise and live entertainment by Wyle Fyah Band. Local artist MANO was joined this year by 11 fellow artists to make this year’s event truly a fine art experience. At this year’s event some of our Culinary Arts students had the opportunity to work alongside Chef Todd Erickson, Chef Irie Spice, and Chef Adrianne Calvo. It was an unforgettable experience for both the chefs and students to come together and create such delicious dishes.
Extra thanks go out to the following sponsors for their support: The Batchelor Foundation, Shelley Daniel Rutherford, Norma Jean Abraham, Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, Barry Solomon, Do Unto Other Trust, Greenberg Traurig, Larry Rutherford, Eugenia McCrea, Hutzler Foundation, Chase, Rossman, Baumberger, Reboso & Spier, PA, Tate Enterprises, Perry Ellis International, Paul Bianco, Myra Porter. Media sponsors included: The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald, Indulge Magazine, Social Miami.com, Citrus Miami, Miami Food Lovers, and RM2 Project.
Event Chef Chair Todd Erickson of HaVen Lounge and HuaHua Taqueria enlisted a remarkable array of leading chefs to join him for this very special event, including Chef Alberto Cabrera of Bread + Butter, Chef Luis Lopez of City Hall, The Restaurant; Chef Daniel L. Healey of Nikki Beach Miami Beach; Chef Assia Dahrouch of Lemoni Cafe; Chef Jorge Montes of Roho Kitchen; Chef Kareem Anguin of The Oceanaire Seafood Room; Chef Irie Spice of Irie Spice Personal Chef and Catering Services; Chef Rocco Carulli of R House; Chef Neïma Bélancourt of Sensory Delights; Chef Tim Andriola of Basil Park; Chef Charles Mereday of Mereday’s Fine Dining and Chef Adrianne Calvo of Chef Adrianne’s. Dessert participants included, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cookies for Jani, Chef Jones Wine Cakes, and The Office Cakes.
Easter Seals Culinary Arts High School program provides assistance to young adults ages 16-22 who have autism, Down’s syndrome or other special needs. The academics and culinary arts teachers are bilingual, state certified, and degreed in Exceptional Special Education (ESE). There is a low student to teacher ratio and students achieve academic and vocational skills that support success in the community.
If you are interested in learning more about Easter Seals South Florida or would like to volunteer or provide financial support, please contact Marta Quintana, VP Development at (305) 547-4765 www.easterseals.com/southflorida.
