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Union Hospital names its first Chef Challenge champion!
Regional chefs support Union Hospital with their culinary talents.
Elkton, Md. (March 29, 2010) – The Union Hospital Foundation held its first Chef Challenge on Friday, March 26 at the Rising Sun Banquet Hall. The event, named “Cecil’s Cookin’,” attracted 100 guests and raised more than $9,000 for the Union Hospital’s Breast Health Center.
Local culinary competitors included Chef Steve Creswell representing Buck’s Restaurant and Blue Marlin, Inc.; Chef Anthony Harvey representing the Nauti Goose Saloon; Executive Chef Christian R. Lackford representing Chesapeake Inn Restaurant & Marina; and Chef Paul O’Toole representing Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club. As a part of the competition each chef pledged to raise money for the new digital mammography equipment at Union Hospital. Their fundraising efforts totaled $5,075 in proceeds.
Danielle Mackie, the hospital’s special events coordinator, said that she was grateful for the generosity of the chefs and their restaurants. “This event was successful because of the chefs,” she said. “They gave their time and their dollars to treat the attendees to a memorable - and appetizing - evening.”
The competition was divided into three rounds each incorporating a key ingredient - puff pastry, portabella mushrooms and Cranberries. Each Chef prepared hors d’oeuvres-sized portions for each attendee and, after each round, attendees and judges voted for their favorite dish.
The suspense was thick as attendees waited for the final results. It was a close race between Executive Chef Christian Lackford and Chef Paul O’Toole who were tied after the scores were tallied. In the end, Chef Paul O’Toole was named Union Hospital’s Chef Challenge champion after a scoring advantage for being the most successful fundraiser. O’Toole was awarded the first place prize of $1,015 which was 20% of the total raised by all of the chefs. Chef Christian also triumphed as the winner of the Attendee’s Choice Award.
Linda Tipton, who attended the event on behalf of Delmarva Power said she was excited to be a part of this new and exciting event. “Delmarva Power was proud to be a sponsor of this event, and to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause,” she said. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Union Hospital and hope to attend next year’s Chef Challenge”
The chefs were not the only competitors that evening. Seven local florists also participated in a centerpiece competition. Included in the competition were Colonial & North East Florist, Elkton Florist, Fair Hill Florist, Gamble’s Newark Florist, Gina’s Florist, Kirk’s Flowers, and Theresa Floral Design. Using the same vase and dollar restrictions, each florist was asked to submit a creative centerpiece. At the end of the night Theresa Floral Design from Newark, DE was named the winner.
To view a video from the competition, go to http://www.youtube.com and search Union Hospital’s Cecil’s Cookin’. To find out more about Union Hospital Foundation events visit http://www.uhccfoundation.org.
Download the press release: Chef Challenge Post Release