Chef Celebration, a nonprofit organization striving to lay a foundation of excellence for San Diego’s dining community, presents its 14th annual dinner series, held at various restaurants once a week throughout the month of October. Celebrations take place every Tuesday in October and will focus on fusing each renowned chef’s unique talents into a delectable five-course dinner. Teams of chefs will join forces at Kitchen 1540, Cowboy Star, Cucina Urbana, Pamplemousse Grille, and Terra Restaurant. Each chef will contribute one of their most notable recipes and throughout the dinner make special appearances to mingle with the guests.
 

Chef Celebration is a collaborative effort made possible by more than 20 award-winning local chefs who donate their expertise to raise money for a culinary scholarship program. Tickets are $65 per person, with $35 going towards the nonprofit scholarship fund. To make reservations, please contact host restaurants directly. (www.chefcelebration.org)
 

2009 Host Restaurants And Participating Chef Teams:
 

Pamplemousse Grille — Tuesday, September 29
514 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach, CA 92075 (858/792-9090, www.pgrille.com)
Jeffrey Strauss — Pamplemousse Grille
Ryan Harris — Pamplemousse Grille, Pastry Chef
Jason Knibb — Nine-Ten

Jeff Thurston — The Prado

Jim Phillips — Barona Casino
 

Terra Restaurant — Tuesday, October
3900 Vermont Street, San Diego, CA 92103
(619/293-7088, www.terrasd.com)
Jeff Rossman — Terra
Katie Grebow — Café Chloe

Norma Martinez — El Vitral 

Danny Bannister — Red Marlin 

Amy DiBiase — Roseville
 

Cowboy Star — Tuesday, October 13
640 Tenth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 (619/450-5880, www.thecowboystar.com)
Victor Jimenez  — Cowboy Star
Bernard Guillas — The Marine Room

Brian Malarkey — Oceanaire

Christian Graves — JSix
David McIntyre — Crescent Heights
                  

Cucina Urbana — Tuesday, October 20
505 Laurel St., San Diego, CA 92101 (619/239-2222, www.sdurbankitchen.com)
Joe Magnanelli — Cucina Urbana
Ben Rollin  — Cucina Urbana
Colin MacLaggan — Avenue 5
Nathan  Coulon  — Quarter Kitchen
Hanis Cavin — Kensington Grill
 

Kitchen 1540 — Tuesday, October 27
1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
(858/793-6460,
www.laubergedelmar.com/kitchen1540)
Paul McCabe — Kitchen 1540
Matt Gordon — Urban Solace
Jeff Jackson — The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Jim Phillips — Barona Casino