Seven chefs honored at annual benefit dinner by West Suburban Community Pantry

There may have been only one winner of the annual Chefs Culinary Challenge Fundraiser presented benefitting West Suburban Community Pantry on Sunday, Feb. 5 at the Chicago Marriott Naperville, but all the chefs contributing to the seven-course meal put plenty of skill and heart on their plates.

Each chef designed and prepared one course, with all the chefs working together on a "runway," to plate and finish each dish in front of the guests.

Chefs participating in the event included Chicago Marriott Naperville chef Scott Wallett Jr., Spice Dog Provisions chef Zac Rogers, Belgio's Catering chef Raul Armenta, Chef by Request Catering owner and chef David Miller, SixtyFour Wine Bar & Kitchen chef Jamie Shahayt, Vasili's Mediterranean chef Jaysen Euler, and Santo Cielo chef Andrew Hoelscher.

Guests voted Chef Wallett winner of the Chefs Challenge for his smoked pork belly appetizer.

Nearly 400 guests attended the fundraiser, presented by Old National and sponsored in part by the Ann & Victor Pokorny Memorial Fund, Marquette Companies, Ryan Hill Group and the Ronald L McDaniel Foundation.

The evening included cocktails, silent auction and a mission moment paddle raise inspired by remarks by Naperville Central High School senior Aubrianna Nestoras who spoke of her experience as both as a pantry volunteer and recipient of food assistance. Nestoras is a member of the National Honor Society and a recipient of an Evans Scholarship, who caddies at Naperville Country Club and volunteers for Special Spaces in addition to working retail in Downtown Naperville.

"Aubrey is a great example of how the assistance we provide can help people achieve more because they do not have to struggle with hunger," said Lisa Spaeth, director of development of the pantry. "We so appreciate everyone who made this special event a success, especially our sponsors and the chefs, who truly understand the power of food to nourish and comfort people and who generously give us their time and talent each year."

The Chefs Culinary Challenge is an annual event to support West Suburban Community Pantry's efforts to end hunger in DuPage and Will counties.

The West Suburban Community Pantry, located in Woodridge, offers a bright inviting Pantry Store as well as a virtual food pantry so that customers can order their groceries online and pick them up at a time and location convenient to them. Serving over 5,600 individuals each month, the pantry also supports an in-school pantry in Romeoville and remote pantries across the community.