Fourth Annual Chef's Showcase Benefits the Community

100 foodies eagerly await an evening of gourmet food and drink—and all for a worthy cause. Proceeds from the 4th Annual Fort Harrison Chef’s Showcase will fund programs that benefit deserving Tampa Bay children.

Those attending the 4th Annual Chef’s Showcase at the Fort Harrison religious retreat June 19 at 5:30pm will not only savor the fine foods and wines—prepared by award-winning chefs and served in the elegant Fort Harrison ballroom—they will also be supporting deserving Tampa Bay charities.

Under the direction of Fort Harrison Executive Chef Zoltan Vajna, participating chefs will join forces to prepare a five-star, four-course meal with wine pairings, inspired by the European Renaissance.

Chefs participating in this year’s Showcase include:

• Chef Michael Moench, Dean of Keiser University Center for Culinary Arts, and former chef at the Ritz Carlton
  
• U.S. Army Master Staff Sergeant Rene Marquis, 2013 winner of the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen competition
  
• Chef Sean Ragan, Executive Chef of Caretta on the Gulf at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater, a AAA Four-Diamond-rated resort
  
• Chef Bill Brown, owner and Chief Chocolatier of award-winning William Dean Chocolates.
  

“The event is co-sponsored by Tampa Bay Magazine and has become a favorite event for area foodies,” says Lisa Mansell, Public Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology. “Food vendors donate the food and the Chefs donate their time, so every dollar goes to the Clearwater Community Volunteers.”

Mansell explained that the Volunteers then invest the proceeds to raise additional funds for children’s charities and to produce events that help and delight area families.

Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV) is best known for their annual Winter Wonderland, Fashions with Flair benefit fashion show and the annual Coachman Park Easter Egg Hunt. CCV supports charities such as the Red Cross, Make a Wish Foundation, Shriners Hospital for Children of Tampa Bay, the Homeless Emergency Project and Nourish to Flourish. They have donated nearly $200,000 and more than 50 tons of toys to children’s charities.

“The Chefs’ Showcase is a great way for us to raise the money we need to continue our mission,” says Pam Ryan Anderson, CCV Executive Director.

The Fort Harrison is an international religious retreat for the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization. The Church of Scientology makes the facility available for charitable groups for fundraisers, receptions and meetings. The Fort Harrison is located at 210 S. Fort Harrison Avenue in Clearwater.

Chef’s Showcase is limited to 100 attendees. To reserve tickets, contact Lisa Mansell at 727-467-6860. For more information about CCV, please visit their website at www.clearwatercommunityvolunteers.org.

Since its construction in 1927, the Fort Harrison has been home to many charitable events and community organizations. More than 300 community events have been held at the retreat since its top to bottom restoration in 2009.