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In a highly anticipated sixth annual event, the Cape Region’s culinary stars are preparing for the Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch fundraiser, as they plan to cook their most sumptuous delights.
The event, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5, on two floors of the Baycenter in Dewey Beach, has already attracted more than 30 area chefs. Presented by WSFS Bank, the brunch has raised $470,000 to date, with all proceeds benefiting Meals on Wheels Delaware.
With such a large number of well-known restaurants being featured at this year’s event, patrons of the brunch are in for a real treat, said Scott Swingle, chairman of the fundraiser since its inception.
“This is a unique event where great chefs come together for an important cause,” said Swingle. “We’re really excited about the way the community has come together to support such a great event and cause.”
The culinary creations set to adorn the various stations of the brunch will include entrees, side dishes, specialty beverages and desserts all personally prepared by head chefs and their teams. The event has even been benefited by a little extra flavor in recent years, said Swingle, as each restaurant competes to most impress the taste buds of every patron at the brunch.
Additional activities at the fundraiser will include live entertainment by two local groups as well as a large silent auction featuring more than 100 unique travel packages, gift certificates and other rare finds.
In a series of articles leading up to the Celebrity Chef Brunch, the Cape Gazette will introduce participating chefs and restaurant owners who have joined the fight against hunger. This week’s three chefs are particularly looking forward to the philanthropic event.
Pete McMahon
JD Shuckers
Owner and Chef Pete McMahon of JD Shuckers has been the chair of the Chefs’ Committee for the Beach Brunch since the event’s inception.
An experienced culinary master, McMahon has honed his craft for many years serving some of the Cape Regions most well-known restaurants.
The chef is a graduate of Johnson-Wales University in Providence, R. I. and currently focuses on fresh seafood and raw bar items at his growing eatery.
For this year’s event, McMahon will once again prepare a Bloody Mary bar with more than 75 ingredients. The bar will also offer JD Shuckers original Ruby Red and Orange crushes.
Hari Cameron
Nage
Hari Cameron has been the Chef de Cuisine at Restaurant Nage since its opening in Rehoboth Beach.
A graduate of Sussex Central High School and Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Cameron has always stood out for his blending of creativity and unique tastes in the many dishes he prepares.
He specializes in seasonal regional American Bistro cuisine and delves into every plate he prepares with energy and expertise that has earned him accolades among colleagues and restaurateurs.
In a past event, he made Nage’s station very popular by preparing mini burgers to order on his favorite electric skillet.
Michael Deller
Atlantic Seafood Grille
For Michael Deller, executive chef at Atlantic Seafood Grille in the Atlantic Sands Hotel, pleasing the appetites of hundreds of daily breakfasters at the Rehoboth hotel comes as second nature. His team regularly prepares 1,500 pounds of scrambled eggs in a week as well as dishes made from hundreds of potatoes. His secret, he says, is to have plenty of patience and stamina and a reliable and upbeat staff ready to tackle tough challenges.
Before his employment in the Atlantic Sands, Deller completed an apprenticeship with the American Culinary Federation. He entered into the work force preparing food at Rock Resorts International at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia and has enjoyed serving private resorts in both Hawaii and the Caribbean.
For this year’s event, Deller plans on preparing a special scallop dish.
He looks forward to meeting the many other local chefs in the area during the fundraiser.
Ticket information
Tickets to the Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch are $95, with all money raised going to Meals on Wheels, as it continues its mission to bring hot, healthy meals to homebound senior citizens in the area. For purchasing information, call 302-656-3257 or visit online at www.mealsonwheelsde.org.
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