Tickets are still available for the 10th Annual Imagine Gala

FORT MYERS, Fla. - March 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Following the success of the 2014 Imagine Gala, which raised $75,000, the Imaginarium Science Center is now gearing up for another record-breaking event on March 21, 2015. From 7 to 11 p.m. the educational facility, located at 2000 Cranford Avenue in Fort Myers, will be transformed into a grown-ups-only zone offering food, drink and activities to delight all the senses. A Celebrity Chef Cook-off will be the tasty centerpiece of the evening, a sizzling spectacle featuring plenty of saucy smack talk between our seasoned gourmet gladiators.

Local celebrity chefs are already sharpening their competitive edge for a fierce but friendly cook-off to highlight a Fresh From Florida theme and bring their signature flair to the tastes, textures, colors and excitement of a locally sourced abundance from land and sea. Chefs Harold Balink of Cru, Fabrice Deletrain and Benjamin Voisin of Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, and Brian Roland of Crave Culinaire will elevate this locally grown challenge to a stadium sport, working with a pantry stocked with produce, meat, seafood, dairy products and other delicacies that meet the exacting standards of the Fresh From Florida program. A mysterious, secret ingredient will make things even more interesting.

As the competition reaches a fever pitch, no one should worry about being able to stand the heat, as the kitchen will be staged under the stars on the beautiful grounds of the Imaginarium. Guests will be served each of the chefs’ appetizer course, and can purchase opportunities to vote on their “Fan Favorite.” The money from each vote will go toward the Camp i-Sci Summer Science Camp Scholarship Fund. These votes will be counted among those of a panel of local celebrity judges, and the chefs will be afforded a 10-minute presentation to explain the strategy, inspiration and techniques behind their masterpieces. A seat on the judges’ panel will be offered to the highest bidder the night of the event.

Catering focused on Fresh From Florida ingredients will be provided, along with an open bar. In addition to sumptuous culinary creations, attendees will enjoy music and dancing, cocktails and a live and silent auction. Ted Fitzgeorge, the face and voice of the Edison Festival of Light, will serve as auctioneer. NBC-2 anchor Lisa Spooner will emcee. The event calls for cocktail attire.

Order tickets at i-sci.org for this delectable night featuring many delightful surprises. Several levels of sponsorship are still available too, offering exciting promotional opportunities, gala tickets, a seat on the Celebrity Cook-Off Judge’s Panel, family memberships and more. All proceeds support Southwest Florida’s only science center and aquarium, which offers engaging STEM exhibits for Southwest Florida children and families.

Please join Title Sponsor Lipman Produce and the other major sponsors for an evening to be remembered: Chico’s FAS, Inc., Enterprise, Bell Tower Shops, Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt, P.A., EnSite, Inc. and CONRIC PR & Marketing | Publishing.

About the Imaginarium Science Center
The Imaginarium Science Center is a family-friendly science center and aquarium offering fun interactive exhibits and a 3-D theatre. The mission is to engage guests in the exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through hands-on exhibit experiences and educational programs that further the understanding of the natural and human-made world, foster an appreciation for Southwest Florida’s unique environment and natural waterways, and nurture intellectual curiosity, discovery, and innovation. For more information, visit www.i-sci.org.