A trio of honorary chefs will help drive home a point about Columbus State Community College’s programs – particularly its culinary programs – at this year’s Taste the Future.
The event, now in its 26th year, brings a lengthy line-up of central Ohio restaurants, retail businesses and caterers to the school’s campus for an evening of food and live entertainment. Proceeds from the event, slated for Aug. 12, benefit the Columbus State Foundation, which funds scholarships for students.
Serving as examples of the heights to which Columbus State graduates can climb are this year’s three alumni chef honorees.
Jonathan Basch, a 2007 graduate, is the executive chef at Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink, the new Cameron Mitchell concept that opened in Upper Arlington in the spring. Joshua Wickham, a 2002 alumnus, is executive chef at Rocky Fork Hunt & Country Club in Gahanna and is American Culinary Federation Northeast Region Chef of the Year for 2014. Curtis Duffy, class of 2002, is chef and owner of Grace Restaurant, a five-star dining establishment in Chicago that opened in 2012.
The foundation’s scholarships make a big difference to Columbus State students, underscoring the importance of the fundraiser, says event organizer Julie Barry.
“Over half of our 25,000 students are first-generation, meaning no one in their immediate family has a college degree,” Barry says.
That focus on students and their future, culinary or otherwise, helps Taste the Future stand out from the pack of other “taste of” events, Barry says.
“Helping students succeed and complete college leads to a more educated work force for central Ohio and the local economy,” she says. “The event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past quarter-century.”
As of early June, more than 30 vendors were already signed up, including Barcelona, Matt the Miller’s Tavern, Giant Eagle Market District, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, Cherbourg Bakery, Tucci’s, Mezzo Ristorante & Bar a
nd the Hubbard Grille.
The event also features wine from Camelot Cellars, beer from Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus and cocktails from Middle West Spirits. Entertainment includes music from the Ken Weaver Band and Dwight Lenox.
Visit www.tastethefuture.com for a full list of participants.
Jeanne Cantwell is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
