South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is famous for its food and beverage programs (among other things), so there’s no surprise its Gifts from the Earth benefit on January 26th features a lineup of star chefs and well-known wineries. Just out of the WSB inbox, the official announcement – read on:

Sixteen of the region’s top chefs will participate in South’s 2013 Gifts from the Earth gala, the annual event that celebrates the hospitality industry and raises funds for college programs and student scholarships at South Seattle Community College. The singular event provides food and wine aficionados, donors, and sponsors a unique opportunity to interact with celebrity chefs and South students while enjoying innovative cuisine and the finest Washington wines.

The festivities, sponsored by Food Services of America, take place Saturday, January 26, 2013 at South Seattle Community College beginning at 5 pm. The evening features hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting and a silent auction, followed by dinner and a live auction that includes unique wine and dining packages.

It’s the can’t-miss event of the year, as the region’s celebrity chefs create their own menus and prepare a multi-course gourmet feast for two tables (10 guests per table) each. All the courses are paired with fine wine from Washington wineries, poured by student sommeliers from South’s own Northwest Wine Academy.

Event emcee Margaret Larson hosts KING-TV’s popular daytime show New Day Northwest. For more than 25 years, she worked as a broadcast journalist, most notably with NBC News as a foreign correspondent based in London, news anchor for the Today show and Dateline NBC reporter, and as a reporter/news anchor at KING-TV. She is the recipient of numerous broadcast journalism awards and is well-known for her humanitarian work. In 2005, she was named “Best Voice for Humanitarianism” by the Seattle Weekly newspaper and, in 2007, was selected for the Women of Vision award by the “Women Work!” organization in Washington D.C.

Gifts from the Earth is more than a unique fundraising event; it also provides invaluable, hands-on learning and professional networking opportunities for South Seattle Community College students Hospitality Management bachelor’s degree program students manage guest relations, Culinary Arts students prepare meals alongside celebrity chefs, and students in the Wine Technology program pour wine donated by Washington wineries.

2013 Celebrity Chefs
(* denotes South Seattle Community College alumni): Jay DeLong – Canapé ; Eric Floyd – Washington Athletic Club; Mark Guth* and Carly Duke* – Emerald Cove Catering; Dan Gilmore – Hunt Club at the Sorrento Hotel; Jeff Maxfield*- Sky City; Robert Houot – South Seattle Community College; Frank Wielgosiek – The Tin Table; Nate Simmons* – Serafina; John Armstrong – Sheraton Seattle; Mark Hammond – Red Lion on 5th; Ryan O’Brien – Palisade; Lenny Rede – Northwest Wine Academy; Brian Scheehser – Trellis; Stacy Sparks-Q-Café; Brian Sullivan – Salish and Ethan Stowell – Ethan Stowell Restaurants.

2013 Featured Wineries
Alexandria Nicole, Amavi, ANIMALE, Balboa, Bartholemew, Basel Cellars, Beresan, Cairdeas Winery, Chandler Reach, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cloudlift, Convergence Zone, Daveport Cellars
DeLille Cellars, DiStefano, Falling Rain, Gecko Cellars, Januik, Lobo Hills, McRea Cellars,
Mark Ryan Winery, Northwest Wine Academy, Northstar, Nota Bene Cellars, O.S. Winery
Otis Kenyon, Patterson Cellars, Pepperbridge, Rolling Bay, Stomani, Stottle, Su Lei, Tertuilia, Twin Cedars, Vortex, Willis Hall, and Woodhouse Cellars

Additional chefs and participating wineries will be announced soon.

Title sponsor Food Services of America (FSA) is one of the nation’s largest foodservice distributors, serving customers in 15 western and mid-western states. This is the sixth consecutive year that FSA, a long-time supporter of South’s award-winning culinary and hospitality industry programs, has participated as the Gifts from the Earth title sponsor. The cocktail hour and silent auction reception is sponsored by Union Bank. Additional sponsors include Boeing, Charlie’s Produce, Interbay Food Company, Southern Wine and Spirits, McGranahan Architects, Rebar & Associates, and Ferguson Construction.

Tickets for Gifts from the Earth may be purchased for $175 per person. Corporate and table sponsorships ranging from $1,750 to $5,000 are also available. More information on ticket purchase and sponsorship opportunities may be obtained by contacting the South Seattle Community College Foundation at (206) 934-5809, email to ssccfoundation@seattlecolleges.edu, or on the web at southseattle.edu/foundation/giftsfromtheearth/index.html.