Chef Denise Shavandy and Texas Poet Laureate Karla K. Morton create the winning dish. Photo courtesy of Jon Uzzel.

Chef Denise Shavandy of Texas State Tech College, assisted by Texas Poet Laureate Karla K. Morton, took top honors at the Fourteenth Annual Cookin’ for Kids Celebrity Chef Cook-Off.

The benefit for Kids Who Care musical theater troupe was held March 6 at Fort Worth’s River Ranch. Twelve professional chefs, each with a notable Texan as an assistant, competed in a race against the clock to create the evening’s winning plates.

For the cook-off, each team was provided a cooler full of ingredients, two Bunsen burners and 45 minutes to create two plates.  One plate was delivered and divided among the evening’s judges, and the other was auctioned off to the evening’s highest bidders.  Simultaneously, five amateur chef teams competed in the amateur chef category.

Something to celebrate Monday night at the 4th Annual Celebrity Chefs Benefit and Auction…Mid-Cities Supporters of SafeHaven jumped into a new category.

With co-chairs Donna Burdette and Anna Saunders organizing the event at the Hilton in Southlake Town Square, Monday night the group surpassed the $1 million mark in its donations to SafeHaven.  Early numbers have this year’s total topping $90,000.

The fundraiser, which aids child victims of domestic violence, included a stable full of fabulous chefs who not only trotted out their specialty dishes, but also offered up exclusive dinners for auction. For their part, the chefs whipped up an impressive array of treats for us, the lucky party-goers. From pulled pork to tenderloin to gourmet mac ‘n cheese to crepes, the food was outstanding. Participating in helping a crowd of people blow their new year’s diets were Chef Jaime Aguilar of Copeland’s of New Orleans; Chef Hans Bergman of Cacharel Restaurant and Grand Ballroom; Chef Sally Bolick and Chef Mike Swirczynski of Strong Bravo!! Catering and Event Planning; Chef Joanne Bondy of the Gaylord Texan’s Old Hickory Steakhouse; Chef Jon Bonnell of Bonnell’s Restaurant; Chef Susan Clark of Creative Memories Cakes & Catering;Chef Eric Hunter of Fire Oak Grille; Chef Brian Olenjack of Olenjack’s Grille; Chef Morris Salerno of The Grotto; Chef Manuel Vera of Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House; Chef Chris Wilson of Market Street; Chef Mark Yamada of Trophy Club Country Club and Chef Charles Youts of The Classic Cafe.

Very special in this year’s live auction was a ruby-and-diamond brooch. The jewel had belonged to the late Colleen Meadows, a long-time supporter of Mid-Cities SOS, and her friend, Leah Shaver, had the honor of circulating the ballroom enticing potential buyers to bid on the sparkly reminder of Colleen.

But besides the money raised for a worthy cause, the evening was a delightful way to start the week. Just as we got to the end of the red-carpet entrance, we were offered a glass of bubbly. Nice touch. And maybe a bit of a good luck charm because by the end we truly had something to celebrate!