3rd Annual Chef's Showcase Features Nine Chefs and Six Courses of Creativity

CLEARWATER, Fla. - June 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Nine chefs were given the challenge to create a six-course meal based on “street food on white table cloths”. This isn’t a reality show or iron-chef competition, but a fundraising dinner on the 14^th of June at the Fort Harrison to raise money for Clearwater Community Volunteers’ Winter Wonderland.

Participating chefs, who are tasked to feed the 100 guests this repast include Chef Justin N. Gaines (2010 winner of TV’s “Chopped”), Chef Bill Brown and Chef Tim Brown (William Dean Chocolates), Chef Sean Ragan (Sandpearl Resort), Chef Viet Vo (Art Institute of Tampa), Chef Mike Thames (Fort Harrison), Chef Vi (DJ Catering), Chef Justin Kincheloe (Tampa’s Armani’s) and Gelato Master Tomasso Galantini (Gala’s Gelateria).

The menu includes gourmet versions of street food from Italy, India, Korea, Mexico and the United States.

The event begins with a reception on the 10^th Floor Terrace at 6, and dinner will start at 6:30 in the Fort Harrison’s Crystal Ballroom. Tickets are $100 per person with all proceeds going to the Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV).

CCV is most known for its production of Winter Wonderland, a nearly 3-week Holiday festival in downtown Clearwater. Admission to the event is free, but guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items and toys, which are then distributed to children and families in Pinellas County. Last year, more than a ton of food and toys were collected.

"What I like about street food," said the Fort Harrison’s Executive Chef Zoltan Vajna, "is that we can cover many different countries and can offer a truly international meal.”

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization is sponsoring the dinner.

“The Fort Harrison is known as our international religious retreat,” said Pat Harney, the spokesperson for the Church of Scientology, “L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, said that a ‘Being is only as valuable as he can serve others’ and this is a unique way for us to serve our community. It is exciting to work with other masters of the culinary arts to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience, while raising money for a good cause.”

Last year’s event raised $7,500 for CCV, and organizers hope to increase this to $10,000 this year. In addition to the funds raised through ticket sales, a live auction includes a cooking lesson with Chef Zoltan and a painting created on-site by artist Nate Jessup.

For more information about the event, please call 727-467-6860 or go to www.clearwatercommunityvolunteers.org.