Chef’s Culinary Classic serves up a winner

Sun., Feb. 10, 2008

The Spokesman-Review

For most of the evening, the stars of the 2008 Chef’s Culinary Classic, a gala black tie benefit for the Children’s Miracle Network, were too busy to make an appearance.

The Chef’s De Cuisine of the Inland Northwest, represented by Jim Wolters, executive chef, Manito Golf and Country Club; Ray Delfino, executive chef, Spokane Athletic Club; Bill Kaye, executive chef of Inland Meats and Elijiah Dalager, and others were busy in the kitchen choreographing the five-course gourmet meal. John Allen, owner of Vino! A Wine Shop, introduced and provided commentary on the wine that had been specially chosen to be paired with each course.

While January’s near record-setting snowstorm advanced on the city, partygoers, in a room decorated by elegant centerpieces featuring tiny lights on white branches, chatted and bid on auction items.

Children’s Miracle Network is a nonprofit organization which raises funds for hospitals and other progams that provide medical care, research and community outreach to ill or injured children. Guests were introduced to a young man who had been assisted by the network when he was critically injured by a horse.

The Grand Pennington Ballroom was as elegant as I have ever seen it.

Good food, good conversation and checks written for a good cause, all complimented by bottles of good wine, made the night an evening to remember.

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