Paul Wahlberg, chef at Alma Nove and Wahlburgers in Hingham, will defend his Best Chef Crown next week at the Second Annual Best Chef fundraising event at Granite Links in Quincy.
The event on Oct. 10, hosted by Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc., features some of the area’s most celebrated chefs against each other in a battle of culinary skills.
Tickets are $100 per person and $175 per couple. Proceeds will benefit QCAP programs, which serves more than 17,000 people annually in Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hull, and surrounding Norfolk County, South Shore, and Metro Boston communities.
Jenny Johnson, co-host of NECN’s TV Diner, will host the competition. Along with Wahlberg, contestants include Chef Robert Caparella of La Scala Restaurant in Randolph; Chef Joel Hathaway of the Neighborhood Club of Quincy; Chef David Todisco of the Tavern at Quarry Hills/Granite Links; and Quincy School Committee member Barbara Isola, host of QATV’s "Into the Frying Pan."
“We are so grateful to the chefs, their restaurants, judges, and our supporters for
contributing their talent, time, and resources to this event,” Beth Ann Strollo,
QCAP’s executive director, said in a press release. “Thanks to their efforts, we hope to have a fun and exciting night while also raising critical funds so that we can continue to deliver our core services.”
The chefs will use portable cooking stations at the event as they vie for the title of “Best Chef.”
The challenge: The chefs will not know their cooking ingredients until the
competition begins that night. Styled after the popular television show, “Chopped,” they will open up baskets to reveal secret ingredients and will have 45 minutes to create their dish.
They will serve up their creations for a panel of judges, Chefs will be judged on
several criteria including taste, originality, and plating. The chef with the most points will be crowned “Best Chef,” won last year by Chef Paul Wahlberg.
The chefs will be assisted by a sous chef and one of the participating celebrity chefs: Paul F. Connors, Jr., member of the Norfolk County Retirement Board and former selectman and retired town administrator from the town of Randolph; Emily Lebo, Quincy School Committee; Patrick McDermott, Register of Probate/Clerk Magistrate at Norfolk County Probate & Family Court; Quincy City Council President Michael E. McFarland; and longtime Quincy resident and community action activist Archie Wahlberg.
As an added twist: The secret ingredients will typify food given out at QCAP’s own
Emergency Food Center, which provides food and other items to thousands of low-income residents and families each year.
QCAP provides clients with monthly food orders, comprised of food and other household items from the Greater Boston Food Bank, local grocers, and private donors. After the event, all of the chefs’ recipes will be shared with the Food Center clients and the public.
Last year’s secret ingredients included chicken, potato bud flakes, canned green beans, peanut butter, and carrots.
“These are ingredients that our clients use on a daily basis to create healthy and tasty meals for their families, all within a very limited budget,” Strollo said. “Making a healthy meal is a challenge for any family and it’s even harder when you have limited resources to buy food.”
The judges won’t be the only culinary connoisseurs that night. Guests can weigh in on their favorite chef in the “People’s Choice” competition. The participating chefs will be providing dishes that reflect the flavors and styles of their own restaurants. Guests can sample their dishes and vote for their favorite chef. Chef David Todisco was voted the “People’s Choice” winner in 2012.
“Whereas the ‘Best Chef’ competition is very restricted, there are no limitations with the People’s Choice’ competition,” Strollo said. “Each chef and restaurant brings a different perspective and flavor profile so our guests will certainly be in for a treat.”
The night will also feature raffles and live and silent auctions, including a destination package to Foxwoods with a suite at the MGM, dinner at the Red Lantern, bowling at High Rollers, and a night at the casino; Putnam Club seats to the New England Patriots; other sporting event tickets and signed memorabilia, golf outings, restaurant and spa gift certificates, jewelry, one-of-a-kind art, and cookware.
Major sponsors include Bank of Canton, Stop & Shop, State Street, the Law Office of George Burke, Eastern Bank, EnTrust Capital, Fallon Community Health Plan, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, Mutual of America, Woodard & Curran, Quincy Mutual, Loomis & Sayles, and Rockland Trust, among others.
For more information on QCAP and to purchase tickets, visit www.qcap.org.
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