Chefs for PATH began in 2009 as a friendly competition between some of the top local chefs in the Bloomington/Normal area and fundraiser for PATH Crisis 211.

Each chef is provided specific ingredients from Sysco Foods as well as a list of acceptable items that they may use from their restaurants.  Additionally, they are given a gift card to Fresh Market where they can choose anything they would like, the only stipulation is that they must use the ingredient in every serving. 

Guests of the event enjoy tasting the preparations of each chef as they rotate through the stations during the gala.  After they have completed the rotations and voted for their favorite dish,  the votes are tallied and two finalists are announced.  The top 2 vote getters move to the “live cooking stage” with just their knives and one assistant chef.  A mystery basket is unveiled, the chefs have a few minutes to prepare their menu’s and then it’s time for the live cook-off.

This years participating chefs represent Biaggis, Baxters, Westminster Village, The Bloomington Country Club. One mystery chef revealed the night of the event!

In 2014, after a live finale cook off between Baxters and Biaggis, Troy Tomlinson-Chef Partner at Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano was declared the winner.

(Karen Zangerle and Troy Tomlinson)

You can buy tickets now for the 2015 event, to see Troy defend his crown.

Thursday, April 9th, 2015 at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts.
All seats reserved, $75/each.  Contact Cathy Beck at 309-834-0507 to reserve your seats. 
Tables of eight and bottle(s) of wine pre-orders will be available. Learn More at PathCrisis.Org

(Baxter’s Exec. Chef Manny Martinez, previous Chefs For Path Winner)

Click HERE for my recent interview interview with PATH Crisis Center Director Karen Zangerle, Troy Tomlinson, and Executive Chef of Baxters(previously Destihl) Manny Martinez.
(Two of this year’s ingredients are revealed during this podcast!!!)

Susan Saunders 3-2-15