Calling All Vendors to Sacramento’s Premier Event

Posted on January 17, 2012 by

Local Restaurants, Wineries and Breweries are invited to meet the public at the Sacramento Chef Challenge!

The Sacramento Chef Challenge is calling all vendors to come out and participate in our region’s premier culinary competition on Saturday, June 23, 2012 from 4pm-9pm at 6950 21st Ave in Sacramento.

This festive celebration features the best of what Northern California has to offer. Guests will enjoy two culinary competitions, wine and beer tasting, local food sampling, live music, silent auction, raffle and much more. 

“The restaurants, wineries and breweries are the highlight of the event,” says INALLIANCE Executive Director Diana DeRodeff who adds, “Our guests have nothing but praise for our vendors and we greatly appreciate the support they are providing our organization.” 

Participating vendors are given the opportunity to share their specialty fare with over 1000 community members, business owners and legislators. Nick Purewal, owner of Five Rivers Tandoori in Yuba City, says, “Fantastic event, we had a wonderful time sharing our flavors with all the people that turned up for an excellent evening!”

Vendors are also eligible to win some exciting prizes, courtesy of the presenting sponsor of the People’s Choice Awards, which allows guests to vote for their favorite food, wine and beer vendors.  Prize packages will be announced soon!

Space is limited and most booths are free of charge for local businesses.  Download a Vendor Participation Packet and Form Here. For more information visit www.chefevent.com or call Jessica Bean at 916-381-1300 x 170.

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INALLIANCE Offers a Unique Gift that Supports the Community

Posted on December 15, 2011 by

For anyone who is still looking for unique holiday gift ideas, the Northern California nonprofit INALLIANCE may have just the solution- tickets to the “Sacramento Chef Challenge” at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, June 23, 2012.

The well known culinary extravaganza features two live culinary competitions, food sampling, wine and beer tasting, live music, raffle prizes and more!  But, the best part is- 100% of proceeds go to programs that support people with developmental disabilities!

“2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the Sacramento Chef Challenge, which means we will be pulling out all the stops and slashing ticket prices,” says INALLIANCE Executive Director Diana DeRodeff.

INALLIANCE provides work and life skills training, supported employment services and assistive communication for people with developmental disabilities.  “Our mission supports the belief that people with developmental disabilities have an absolute right and responsibility to be fully participating members of the community, and the Sacramento Chef Challenge is a way for us to raise vital funds for our programs while connecting with the community in a fun and positive way,” continues DeRodeff.

Rancho Cordova resident Anthony Paradiso has attended the event for the past four years and says, “I look forward to the Chef Challenge every year.  It is exciting and offers a huge variety of food, wine and beer!  I love a good competition and the chefs put on a great show.”  Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at www.chefevent.com or by calling INALLIANCE at 916-381-1300 x170.

“There are many food events out there, but I support the Chef Challenge because it is a quality event that benefits a great cause,” adds Paradiso. To learn more about the Sacramento Chef Challenge, purchase tickets and see photos from past years visit www.chefevent.com today!

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Celebrating Ten Years of Success

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

Next year, INALLIANCE will celebrate 60 years of services to the greater Sacramento region.  2012 will also mark the tenth anniversary of our annual fundraiser the Celebrity Chef Challenge, and in honor of these achievement, we are excited to share some fantastic changes to the event:

The Name- We have received a tremendous amount of support from businesses and communities in and around Sacramento and are eager to recognize the area.  With that in mind, we have changed the name of our event to the Sacramento Chef Challenge!

The Cost- Everyone is welcome at the Sacramento Chef Challenge, and to make it more affordable, we are slashing ticket prices from the normal $50 down to $25 per ticket!

The Venue- In the past we have hosted the Sacramento Chef Challenge at a variety of locations including the Scottish Rite, Sterling Hotel, Old Sugar Mill and the California Auto Museum, but for 2012 we are bringing it home and hosting the event at our own campus.  The INALLIANCE Sacramento office (6950 21st Ave, Sacramento) is a beautiful place, and what better way to celebrate than on our own door step?

The Date- For the past few years, the Sacramento Chef Challenge has been held in April, but the weather is always a little sketchy, and so we decided to move the event to Saturday, June 23, 2012 from 4:00pm-9:00pm.

The Activities- We will still have both a culinary competition and cake war competition; food, beer and wine sampling; raffle and silent auction; but we also be adding in LIVE MUSIC!

The Challenge- You told us what you wanted, and now we are giving it to you!  For our tenth anniversary the Sacramento Chef Challenge judges will be…our guests!  That’s right, each attendee will get to sample the dishes prepared by our chef challengers and vote for their favorite.  Guests will also be casting ballots for their favorite winery, brewery, restaurant and cake war competitor.

This is just the beginning of an exciting year.  Stay tuned for more and make sure to get your tickets early!

Tickets go on sale Monday, November 21, 2011 and can be purchased online, by mail or in person at 6950 21st Ave, Sacramento, CA 95820.

For more information, please contact Jessica Bean at jbean@inallianceinc.com or 916-381-1300 x 170

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2012 Sacramento Chef Challenge

Posted on October 28, 2011 by

Professional chefs will compete head to head in a live culinary competition and you decide who wins!

Chef Evan Elsberry (left) and his sous chef took home the gold in 2011

Chef Challengers will have three hours to prepare and serve a three item specialty menu based on a surprise theme. Every guest will have the opportunity to sample each menu item and vote for “whose cuisines reigns supreme” based on:

  • Taste & Quality
  • Originality
  • Connection to Theme
  • Overall Presentation
  • Personality & Theatrics

Competing chefs create a three dish meal!

As chefs battle for culinary glory, guests sample from lover 100 local restaurants, wineries & breweries while enjoying live music!

We hope your taste buds are ready for our region’s premier culinary event!

Tickets go on sale in mid-November!

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Nor Cal Food & Wine Events

Posted on August 18, 2011 by

Wine & Food Events:

East Bay & Beyond

As publishes by the Contra Costa Times on 08/17/2011 12:00:00 AM PDT at http://www.mercurynews.com/food-wine/ci_18670019?nclick_check=1

‘Dine With Summer Wines’ series — 7-10 p.m. through Oct. 15. These three-course prix-fixe menus showcase notable wine regions or vineyards, including Napa Valley’s Trefethen Family Vineyards, which takes the limelight through Aug. 15. Series dinners are available Sunday through Thursday. $45-$70. Luce Restaurant, Intercontinental San Francisco, 888 Howard Street at Fifth. Reservations: 415-616-6560, www.lucewinerestaurant.com.

Spenger’s Backpack Benefit — 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. through August. Spenger’s will give away a $10 dining certificate in exchange for every new backpack dropped off at the restaurant. This gift certificate is good toward lunch or dinner at Spenger’s. The backpacks will be donated to the Berkeley Boosters/Police Activities League. 1919 Fourth St., Berkeley; 510-845-7771.

Champagne seminar — 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Join Foreign Cinema wine director Zach Pace as he discusses sparkling wines from around the world, as well as the ins and outs of food pairings, with tastes provided by chefs Gayle Pirie and John Clark. $125. 2534 Mission St., San Francisco; 415-648-7600, www.foreigncinema.com.

Livermore Valley wine tasting — 3:30 p.m. Aug. 20, 27. Ride aboard a historic train in Niles Canyon with wine educator Steve Ferree, as you sample a selection of five wines from Livermore Valley. Niles Depot, 37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont. $37.50. 510-910-7024.

Around the World One Bite at a Time — 1-4 p.m. Aug. 20. Enjoy cooking demos, appetizers from around the world, and international music during this special event at Trilogy at The Vineyards, a retirement community, 1615 California Trail in Brentwood. Reservations: 800-685-6494, www.trilogylife.com/page/passport.

Summer Rocks — 1-5 p.m. Aug. 20. Rock Wall Wines’ open house will showcase new releases and award-winning favorites from Rock Wall, of course, but also more than 50 wines from the Alameda Point Vintners group of boutique urban wineries. $30-$45. 2301 Monarch St., Suite 300, Alameda; www.rockwallwines.com.

Rose and Pate Week — 5:30-10 p.m. through Aug. 21. Left Bank Brasserie is hosting Rosé & Pâté Week, offering an $11 flight of rosés, a variety of pâtes for $6.50 each and a pairing of the rosé flight and one pâté for $15.50. Left Bank Brasserie in Menlo Park also will join in this celebration of fun fine dining. 377 Santana Row, Suite 1100, San Jose. 408-984-3500.

Chicks Cook It — 5-7 p.m. Aug. 21. Seasonal food, popular recipes and a food and wine tasting highlight this special event featuring Suzette Gresham-Tognetti, executive chef and co-owner of the acclaimed Acquerello Restaurant. LB Steaks, 334 Santa Row, Suite 1000, San Jose. 408-244-1180.

Asian Culinary Forum — 6-9 p.m. Aug. 22. Food, wine and sake tasting followed by a discussion with four notable chefs as they talk about the ways in which they have reinvented Asian cuisine: Dennis Lee of Namu, Richie Nakano from Hapa Ramen, Sarah Dey of New Delhi and Wilfred Pacio, founder of Spice Kit. San Francisco Ferry Building, 2nd Floor, 1 Ferry Building. $35. Reservations recommended. www.asianculinaryforum.org.

Moe’s Books Cookbook Discussion Series — 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Expert book buyers Ken Eastman and John Wong will provide free advice about selling a cookbook collection and will appraise for free rare and unusual volumes. 2476 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. 510-849-2087.

Danville Art and Wine Stroll — 5:30-8 p.m. Aug. 25. Enjoy a fun-filled evening of wine tasting, small bites, and live jazz from the Dirty Cats, who will perform at Hartz and Prospect. $25, includes a wine glass. www.discoverdanvilleca.com/eventartwine.php.

Berkeley Firefighters’ BBQ — 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 25. A benefit for The Berkeley Firefighters’ Random Acts Program, this annual all-you-can-eat BBQ is staffed and prepared by Berkeley’s own Firefighters. $15. Berkeley Yacht Club, 1 Seawall Drive; 510-549-7000, www.berkeleychamber.com.

OysterFest — Noon-3 p.m. Aug. 27. Enjoy this celebration of sustainable oysters, food and fun on Waterbar’s bayside patio, surrounded by views of the Bay Bridge and the city skyline, as hundreds of oyster enthusiasts “unhinge” their favorite delicacies. Admission ($40) includes unlimited oysters, wines from Napa Valley and craft beers; live music by local jazz band Golden Gate Hot Club; exciting contests such as Oyster Shucking, Oyster Eating and a Hot Sauce competition; and local celebrity judges. 399 The Embarcadero South (between Folsom and Harrison Street), San Francisco; www.waterbarsf.com.

Millbrae Art and Wine Festival — Sept. 3-4. Two sun-splashed days of festive food and drink, live music, art exhibits, Chinese dragon dance and taiko drum performances and children’s activities. Broadway between Victoria and Meadow Glen avenues, Millbrae. 650-697-7324, www.miramarevents.com.

Harvest Wine Celebration — Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 4-5. Experience Livermore Valley Wine County at its best while celebrating the harvest. Sample foods and wine. Revel in live music, local crafts, unexpected fun and warm wine-country hospitality. Estate Winery Tasting Room, 5565 Tesla Road, Livermore. Tickets: 925-447-9463.

Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival — Sept. 9-11. Lake Tahoe’s premier gourmet event includes chef battles, outdoor grilling demonstrations, a celebrity chef luncheon, gourmet marketplace, grape stomp and more. www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

Mountain View Art and Wine Festival — Sept. 10-11. A massive multicultural celebration featuring festive food and drink, live music and an action-packed Kids’ Park. Castro Street between El Camino Real and Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View. 650-968-8378, www.miramarevents.com.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival — Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 10-11. Chef demos, live entertainment and, of course, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate highlight the 16th Annual Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival. Admission is free; $20 for 15 chocolate samples. 415-775-5500, www.ghirardellisquarechocolatefestival2011.eventbrite.com.

2011 Sonoma Valley Crush — Sept. 14-18. Sixteen wineries will participate in this hands-on harvest experience, which features a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during harvest, as well as grape sampling, Crush Pad tours and winemaker lunches and dinners. Tasting passes are $35 per person. Get details at www.heartofsonomavalley.com or 866-794-9463.

SonRise Wine and Equine Festival — 6 p.m. Sept. 16. Enjoy a relaxing evening of estate-grown wines, gourmet food, dancing and a wine raffle at this benefit for SonRise, which helps rescue horses and assist children with challenges. $150. 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore; 925-838-7433, www.sonriseequestrianfoundation.org.

Foreign Cinema Anniversary Celebration — 6 p.m. Sept. 22. Celebrating 12 years of renowned California-Mediterranean cuisine, an extensive and eclectic wine and cocktail list and countless film screenings, this memorable party benefits the Bay Area chapter of Little Kids Rock. $85. 2534 Mission St., San Francisco. Reservations: 415-648-7600.

Truckee Wine, Walk and Shop — Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 1. This annual event brings nearly 1,000 attendees to shop and stroll in historic Truckee while indulging in some of the finest vintages and varieties matched with food samples prepared by chefs representing the best restaurants and caterers in the region. $30-$40. www.truckeewinewalk.com.

Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week — Oct. 2-9. Enjoy three-course, prix fixe menus at more than 60 participating restaurants throughout the Lake Tahoe region for $20, $30 or $40 per person; www.TahoeRestaurantWeek.com.

Best of the Blue — Nov. 12. This gathering for passionate gourmets and wine lovers features wines from Monterey County and gourmet food trucks, offering seasonal dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. $60. 200 Fred Kane Drive, Monterey; 831-375-9400, www.montereywines.org.

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2012 Chef Challenge Update

Posted on August 17, 2011 by

Fans of the Celebrity Chef Challenge will be happy to know that plans are in the works for our biggest event to date.  Next year will boast the event’s 10th anniversary, as well as the 60th anniversary of INALLIANCE, the nonprofit organization that proceeds from the event.

Next year’s event will see a new venue and added features, not least of which is the inclusion of a new set of special culinary judges.  Who are these luck folks?  Y-O-U!  That’s right ladies and gentlemen, we have heard your requests, and for 2012 audience members will get to sample all of the exciting dishes created by our Chef Challengers and will vote for our winner.

So, keep your taste buds on alert for more information!

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The Photos Are In

Posted on June 28, 2011 by

Hello there Celebrity Chef Challenge Fans!  The Celebrity Chef Challenge photos are finally in.  We apologize for the wait, but it was well worth it, because our photography sponsor Bonnefin Studios Photography did an amazing job.  Special thanks to both Wes and Brie for donating their time to support InAlliance and people with developmental disabilities…enjoy!

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Click Here to View All of the Photos!

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