Arclinea San Diego is hosting its second annual holiday charitable program on Saturday December 18, from 12-4pm, benefiting local charity Second Chance. The 2010 Gingerbread Collective continues a tradition started in 2009, when 13 local architects, designers, and creative-types built gingerbread houses that challenged the boundaries of imagination. For its 2010 program, Arclinea San Diego has issued a fresh, creative directive — inviting San Diego’s top chefs and skilled culinary professionals to create dishes and drinks, both savory and sweet, inspired by the flavors and spirit of holiday Gingerbread. The public is invited to taste the results in a friendly “taste-off.” During a four-hour holiday open house, a jury composed of local celebrities and the general public can attend and cast their votes for the winning recipes across several categories. Festivities will be accompanied by a canned food drive, opportunity drawing, and auction of chef-made gingerbread houses. All proceeds will be donated to the Food Pantry and Holiday Meals program at Second Chance, a San Diego-based philanthropic organization that assists those with barriers to employment find and keep a job. For a $20 donation, guests will receive five tasting tickets and two raffle tickets for entry in the program’s opportunity drawing. Additional food and raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Guests are also asked to bring non-perishable food items to support the food and donation Drive for Second Chance. (619/564-7440, events@arclineasandiego.com, www.facebook.com/arclineasandiego)
Refreshments Provided
The 2010 Gingerbread Collective will feature unique dishes and drinks created by some of San Diego’s brightest chefs and culinary stars, including chef Chris Powell (Bali Hai), pastry chefs Elaine Ardizzone & Donna Cellere (Sweet Cheeks Baking Company), chef Joe Magnanelli (Cucina Urbana), baker Lori Krause (Lori’s Homemade), the catering team at Whole Foods Hillcrest, and companies like Stone Brewing Company and Honest Tea.
Event Program
During the open-house, revelers will have an opportunity to mingle with the chefs, restaurants, and culinary professionals who prepared this year’s culinary creations, along with graduates of Second Chance’s job skills program. The afternoon concludes with the announcement of the “People’s Choice” winning dishes and jury-selected favorites; an auction of chef-made gingerbread houses; and the pronouncement of winners for all prizes in the Opportunity Drawing. (Guests do not need to be present to win.)
Opportunity Drawing
The opportunity drawing will include gift certificates from local businesses; food, wine, and design gifts, and more; including valuable prizes from companies like Fortaleza Tequila, Waters Fine Catering, Cork & Platter, and architecture firm Studio: Anderson, Inc.
