On April 15, WOSU hosts its 4th annual fundraising event "Chefs in the City." This televised culinary event will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on April 22 on WOSU.
This year’s event features Master Chef Rick Bayless, winner of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, as well as seven local celebrity chefs. Each chef will demonstrate and serve their signature dish to the live audience, all the while incorporating this year's theme, "Local Foods."
Local Foods is a movement to increase sustainability in local food production, processing, distribution and consumption, thus increasing the economic, environmental and social health of a community. According to Local Matters, a non-profit organization in Central Ohio focused on transforming our food system, several Central Ohio communities lack access to fresh, healthy foods on a daily basis and, as a result, have some of the highest obesity and diabetes rates in the country.
Bayless is a major proponent of the Local Foods movement. In 2003, he set up the Frontera Farmer Foundation to support local farmers, providing grants to help struggling farms. Bayless believes that having readily available local produce is essential to the culinary culture of any community. His four restaurants, all located in Chicago, Ill., feature local, organic Mexican cuisine.
XOCO, Bayless’s newest restaurant, also features biodegradable take-out materials in keeping with sustainability’s idea of not only eating healthy but living healthy as well, even when it’s on the go.
Other chefs preparing dishes as part of the event's spectacular nine-course meal include Richard Blondin of The Refectory, Paul Yow of Barcelona, David Tetzloff of G. Michael’s and Jeni Britton of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
The event will be held at WOSU@COSI, the 12,000 square-foot space that houses a state-of-the-art digital media center within the COSI building, 333 W. Broad St.
Doors for the event will open at 5:30 p.m. The evening begins with a wine reception, including live music and hor d’oeuvres. There will also be a book signing with Bayless and a silent auction of some of the most sought after culinary packages. All proceeds from the auction will benefit WOSU’s educational children’s programming.
Tickets start at $150 each. Chef's table tickets are $325. For more information or tickets, visit www.wosu.org/chefs.