5th Annual Cooking Up Dreams

Cooking Up Dreams Fundraising Event

Join us for an evening of deliciousness that will tickle your taste buds and tug at your heartstrings! The 5th Annual Cooking Up Dreams features a chef competition, wine raffle, silent and live auction will proceeds to benefit Family Service Agency’s program for at-risk children, families and seniors.

Guests and celebrity judges will sample dishes prepared by leading local chefs and restaurants and vote on the dish that will win the People’s Choice or the Judge’s Awards. Complimentary food, wine & beer. Live auction. Raffle. DJ Scott Topper. Photo Booth, and more!!

Attendees get to taste and vote as well, choosing the People’s Choice award. Proceeds benefit Family Service Agency (FSA), providing mental health and basic needs programs for underserved children, families, and seniors in Santa Barbara County.

This year we’ve assembled a great variety of culinary experts from Montecito to Buellton, said Event Co-Chair, Marni Cooney. There’s going to be a fabulous selection of dishes. It’ll be difficult to choose the best ones.

Participating chefs include winners and favorites from last year as well as a few first-timers will be:

· Chef Chanel Ducharme of Bluewater Grill (NEW!)
· Chef Ranferi Rios from Casa Blanca Restaurant (NEW CHEF!)
· Chef Peter Cham from Finch & Fork
· Owner and Chef Jeff Olsson of Industrial Eats in Buellton
· Chef Weston Richards from Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant
· Chef Michael Hutchings from Michael’s Catering (2015 winner)
· Chef Damien Giliberti Outpost at the Goodland (2018 Runner up!)
· Chef Renaud Gontheir of Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro (2018 Judges’ Choice Winner)
· Chef Jesus Charco, Santa Barbara FisHouse (2017 People’s Choice Winner)
· Chef Justin West from Soul Cal Smokehouse (NEW!)
· Chef Taylor Melonuk from The Middle Child (NEW!)
· Owner Michael Amador from Uncorked Wine Tasting & Kitchen (NEW!)
· Desserts by Rincon Events

In addition to tasting and voting, guests will enjoy complimentary wine from Babcock, Brander, Margerum, and Santa Barbara Winery. There will also be music by DJ Scott Topper, silent and live auctions, a premium photo booth experience by RUMOR Photo Media, and much more.

We’re also thrilled to be honoring Yardi this year, said Sandy Nordahl, Event Co-Chair. Yardi has been a long-time FSA supporter and really cares about the well-being of families in our community. Yardi Systems Inc., a longtime supporter of FSA, will serve as Honorary Chair. Gordon Morrell, Executive Vice President, and Kelly Johnson, Culture and Philanthropic Coordinator, will represent Yardi at the festivities.