Benefit dinner also benefits student chefs in Louisville

By: Dan Childs

Despite heavy rains and near-record flooding, nearly 125 guests braved the elements to enjoy an intimate five-star dining experience with six of Louisville, Kentucky's finest chefs for the Chefs for Success benefit for The Salvation Army Culinary Arts Training Program.

The Feb. 24 event at Big Spring Country Club, presented by the Foundation for Hope, did not disappoint as diners enjoyed creations including Asian-inspired dumplings, Pork Belly Cassoulet and Maple Apple Upside-down Cake a-la-mode.

The $150-a-ticket event gave a half-dozen culinary arts students the opportunity to work side-by-side with chefs plating dishes and, more importantly, learning what it takes to be successful in the culinary field.

"They were giving us advice the entire night," said Breona King, "making sure all the dishes came out looking consistent. It was a great experience."

It also was a little daunting to work with classically trained chefs on a grand stage, but John Edward Allen leaned on God to help him get through.

"I was nervous at first, but my Bible says God has not given us a spirit of fear, so I asked him to help me do my best and not be apprehensive," Allen said. "When you talk to God, you know he'll answer your prayers, and everything, thankfully, worked out the way I'd hoped. It was an amazing night."

Proceeds from tickets sales, the silent auction and pledges totaled $37,000, all of which benefitted the Culinary Arts Training Program, now in its 13th year.

The featured Louisville chefs were Josh Hillyard, Big Spring Country Club; James Moran, Julep's Catering; Ming Pu, 502 Bistro; Jeffery Daily, Harvest; Robbi Santos, Ward 426; and Head Chef Cody Stone, Decca.

Event sponsors were WEHR Constructors, Zoeller Pump Co., BKD, MainSource Bank, US Security Associates, MCM and Brown-Forman Corp., the Spirit of Chefs for Success.

The 10-week multi-faceted training program was developed in 2005 to provide the environment and training to individuals living in poverty that promotes the vocational skills and self-confidence to support life-long self-sufficiency.