Meet The Chefs ~ 2018 Community Table

Only 18 days until you can meet the chefs at the Community Table fundraiser. Dinner, cocktails, cold brews, live music, you can have it all on Sunday, September 30, beginning at 4:30 in the afternoon.  Benefiting Triad Local First, a non-profit membership organization based right here in Greensboro, North Carolina, with over 360 members – retail shops, real estate agents, insurance brokers, marketing and advertising firms, accountants, dentists, restaurants, farmers, breweries, and more. Did you know that when consumers, you and me, choose to support locally owned businesses, 68% of our dollars stay within our community as opposed to only 14% when we buy from non-local enterprises?

Last week I acquainted you with several of the participating chefs and beverage companies for the 2018 dinner. Today you can read about a few more players and it’s still not too late to reserve your seat at the table!  You can do that right HERE!

Let’s start with Brian Dicey of Starmount Forest Country Club.  Brian is responsible for preparing the dessert for this years farm to table meal and if you know me at all you know dessert is my favorite part of any meal!  Life is short – eat dessert first!  A southern boy, born in Georgia, Chef Dicey found his calling to the food world while a student at North Carolina State in Raleigh.  After beginning at Catering Works, Raleigh’s largest caterer, Dicey found his way through many kitchens in both Raleigh and Greensboro.  Chef Dicey, I can assure you I’ll be looking over your shoulder to see what sweet confection you prepare for the guests.

Chef Kris Fuller, owner of Crafted ~ The Art Of The Taco and Crafted ~ The Art Of Street Food, will be joining us this year. What a great addition she will be! Kris is known for running a tough kitchen, her commitment to accuracy has earned her numerous awards and recognition.  Chef Fuller began her adventure into the culinary sector 15 years ago with an apprenticeship under Chef Chris Russell at B. Christopher’s Steakhouse.   She is also owner of Bites & Pints Gastropub.  Fuller’s dedication to her profession is evident on every plate of food that emerges from her kitchens.

For a fun twist on what’s in store to be savored, meet Niki Farrington of Niki’s Pickles.  Producing over a 1000 gallons of pickles weekly, Niki procures all her ingredients from local farmers. Farrington, a West Virginia native who graduated from Applachian State in Boone and continued her education at University of Illinois in Chicago, where she attended the Jane Adams College of Social Work now calls N.C. her home.  Niki is conquering the pickle world one sour and salty pickle at a time.

We’re going to need some cold beverages to wash down all the delicious fare.  Let me introduce you to another of the breweries involved in this years Community Table.  Preyer Brewery will be offering up cold ones from their vast line up of beers.  With names like Vanilla & Cherry Milkshake IPA, Mar-Gose-Rita Tequila Barrel Aged Gose, Preyer Strawberry Wheat Ale and Lemon CardaMom Jeans Wheat Beer , we should all be excited about sipping on a Preyer beer.

The last chef I’ll introduce you to today is Jeff Bacon, executive director of Providence Restaurant and Catering, and Triad Community Kitchen.  10 years ago Jeff created Triad Community Kitchen and now oversees a catering program as well.  Providence is dining with a purpose. Home to a unique and professionally-designed paid Hospitality Residency Program, Second Harvest Food Bank’s Providence Restaurant gives graduates of its Triad Community Kitchen Culinary TrainingProgram the opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals for up to two years, preparing them to move forward in their culinary careers and into leadership roles. Wow – that’s impressive.  With Chef Bacon on the team this year you must know great things will be happening in the kitchen.

There are a few more chefs who will be bring their talents to the Community Table dinner later this month.  I’ll be sharing their names and stories with you next week.  Tickets are still available HERE.  You don’t want to miss this important event – come on out and support the community you live in!

Photos courtesy of Community and Triad Local First.