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thursday nights
pulp fiction theatre
Gritty, thrilling and performed
live at Downtown's coolest
Dinner Theatre.
5 bucks (CHEAP!) for the
show | full dining | call for
more info.
doors open at 6, show at 8:30
boomtown theatre
20 march 8-14, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
Straight from the 30s
140 west monroe street | 632-0099 | http://pulpfictiontheatre.tk/
eating for a good cause
by Erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: Salvation Army Celebrity Chefs Luncheon
& Silent Auction
When: March 15 th @ 11AM-1PM
Where: The Jacksonville Fairgrounds
Among food events, the Salvation Army
Celebrity Chef’s Luncheon & Silent Auction is one
of the most unique and longstanding food events
you’ll find in Jacksonville. Most of the “chefs”
you’ll find manning the tables at this event aren’t
local celebrity chefs but are simply celebrities or
important people in the Jacksonville area. You’ll
find Jacksonville Jaguar Joe Zelenka, City Councilman
Lad Daniels, local philanthropist Betsy Lovett
and Peterbrooke President Peter Behringer all at
booths, serving one of their favorite dishes to the
public. TV and Radio personalities will also be in
attendance. Two newsworthy meteorologists will
be at the event. Mike Buresh of Fox 30/CBS 47 will
be serving a Derby Pie and John Gaughan of WJXT
will be serving a Korean barbeque known as Khal
Bi. Dee Davenport of 93.3 Rooster Country will be
ladling out some Rooster Country Chicken Corn
Chowder.
HoW THe Food iS CHoSen
First, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Salvation
Army begins organizing the event by asking local
celebrities to participate. Once they’ve gotten a
commitment, they then ask for three favorite family
recipes from each celebrity in different categories,
i.e. dinner, dessert and a side item. Each of those
recipes are then cooked by one of the catering
companies hired for the event. This year they’ve
hired Genesis Café, Anthony’s Gourmet Catering
and Catering by Liz. Once the items are cooked,
they are then presented to the Tasting Committee
(something that sounds like a great job!) Based on
their collective taste buds, as well as the recommendations
from the caterers about the viability of
the dish on a buffet line, they choose the best dish
of the three from each celebrity. Another factor that
determines what is served has to do with filling
category slots; they don’t want to serve all desserts
or side items, so if all the deserts are fantastic,
they can only choose a few of the best because
they need an equal variety.
HoW iT ALL goT STArTed
It’s year 21 of an event that has become a
Jacksonville tradition. It began two years after
the Jacksonville Ladies Auxiliary of the Salvation
Army was formed. Committee co-chair Sally Evans
says that the “Ladies Auxiliary needed a reason
for being… Darleen Unger had seen the concept
elsewhere, so we decided to do it.” The event has
grown considerably, going from only 9 sponsors to
41 sponsors in this year’s events. Their first year,
they earned ten thousand dollars for the Salvation
Army; as of last year they pulled in a staggering
one hundred two thousand.
WHere THe ProCeedS go?
Every year, this event does more than amuse
and feed the participants; the proceeds go to
projects within the community to help the less
fortunate. “All of the money stays right here in the
Jacksonville area,” says committee co-chair Sally
Evans. The majority of these projects are very
practical and concrete, such as a washer dryer
set for the Adult Rehabilitation Center, office supplies
as well as computer upgrades for the local
administrative staff and toiletry items, like towels
and wash cloths, for the local shelter. Money from
the benefit lends a hand to young and old alike.
Top on the list of projects are a code-approved
bus and scholarships for homeless children at the
Child Development Center. For the Salvation Army
Senior Center, money is allocated towards an audio
center.
WHAT To exPeCT
This year, the event has been moved from
the Prime Osborne to the Exhibition Hall at the
Fairgrounds. Food booths will be set up along the
perimeter of the event. Each booth will be manned
by a local celebrity who will be serving in a chef’s
hat and apron. Food items range from the Peterbrooke’s
Chocolate Fountain to Spinach Squares
or Rustic Lasagna. In the center of the event will
be the Silent Auction, which can be approached for
the majority of the festivities. Items on the silent
auction block include travel, fine dining, art and
antiques. Hundreds of beautiful plants from Trad’s
Garden Center, used for decoration at the event,
will be available for purchase. 20% of plant sales
will be donated to The Salvation Army.
The Master of Ceremonies will be Shotgun
of Rooster Country. Parking is blessedly free, and
you’ll receive a cookbook featuring all the recipes
of the event. Tickets are only $30 each, available
from any Auxiliary member or by calling 301-4841.