7th annual Generous Helping Celebration

LORAIN — Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio is conducting its Seventh annual Generous Helpings celebration and will celebrate the food bank’s 30 years with 17 chefs from the area, including world renowned Wendy Kromer, ofWendy Kromer Specialty Confections, of Sandusky.

The celebration is Sept. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Food Bank at 7445 Deer Trail Lane, Lorain.

Susan Bartosch, community engagement coordinator, and Julie Chase-Morefield, executive director of Second Harvest, and a committee of volunteers are organizing the event.

“This is a tasting event that offers people to come together for a good cause and help those in need while having a fun night,” Bartosch said.

The 17 chefs will prepare dishes for guests to enjoy, and beer and wine will be available.

Chefs will come from Catherine’s Chocolates; Chez Francois; Culinary Vegetable Institute; Crush Winebar; DeLuca’s Place in the Park; EHOVE Career Center; Kiedrowski’s Bakery; Lorain County Community College; Lorain County JVS; Marconi’s Italian Restaurant; Mill Street Bistro; Oberlin Inn; RockWest Music and Grub Pub; Stubby’s Pub and Grub; Cork’s Wine Bar & Bistro; Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub; and Zinc Brasserie.

A preview of the menu from Chef John Cafarelli of Corks and Stubbys is homemade bacon brule over cheddar grits with roasted shallot-molasses glaze. The other is a cone filled with house-cured leg of wild boar, pastrami, Greek olives and piave vecchio cheese.

Last year, the Generous Helpings event was a sellout with 600 people attending, and it is expected to be so again this year, Bartosch said.

“There are 80 tickets left going for $75,” she said.

Along with the food tasting, guests can participate in an auction with items including a variety of electronics, sports and NASCAR tickets, golfing packages,Vitamix food processors, lottery tickets, gift cards, jewelry, American Girl Dolls, wine baskets and tours, cookware, trips to the Erie isles, and cruises.

The main event in the evening is a champagne toast and an anniversary cake from Kromer. She also will be giving a cake decorating demonstration by giving the cake its final touches. Wendy Kromer Specialty Confections in Sandusky is well-known for their wedding cakes.

Second Harvest also partners with 110 nonprofit agencies in Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain Counties.

“Last year the food bank assisted in helping 77,000 individuals in the four county area. That is one out of six people,” Bartosch said.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.giving.secondharvestfoodbank.org or by calling 960-2265.