Good friends Tony Blankenship and Cory Fidler are chefs who work in the Santa Fe restaurant/hotel industry. Planning menus and understanding food, labor, and equipment costs are central parts of their job. By this point, these things are probably part of their genetic makeup.
People in possession of such skills who also understand the harsh realities of hunger and homelessness are the perfect partners to wage a massive fundraiser for one of the city’s busiest community homeless shelters. Fidler and Blankenship are behind Chefscapades, a benefit for Santa Fe’s Interfaith Community Shelter. The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Hotel Santa Fe’s Kiva Room (1501 Paseo de Peralta).
In 2011-2012, the shelter provided overnight accommodation for roughly 700 men, women, and children (about 12,500 “bed nights”); the facility also provides hot showers, a transitional-employment help center, a com- munity closet for those in need of clothes, and a skills-enrichment program. With the assistance of more than 2,500 volunteers each year, the shelter has been a lifeline for those who have no protection from the harsh seasonal elements.
At Chefscapades, enjoy fantastic music, food, and live and silent auctions with guest of honor Mayor David Coss. Ali MacGraw and Paul Margetson are co-hosts. The four-course menu is assembled by chefs Donald Burns and Starson Roy of Shamrock Foods, Andrew Nichols of Las Campanas, Carmen Rodriguez of La Posada, Hotel Santa Fe’s Patrick Kline, and Tom Kerpon from Tanti Luce 221. A bubbly reception at 6:30 p.m. is followed by a 7:15 p.m. dinner; music comes courtesy of pianist Charles Blanchard. Margetson plays emcee and oversees the auctions throughout the evening.
Not hungry yet? How about this: Hawaiian tuna poke with sesame and mango, soy syrup, cilantro pesto, candied ginger, and toast points; Thai coconut horchata soup; grilled peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin with sautéed mushrooms, green chile, potato gratin, haricots verts, and chipotle demi-glace; and poached pear with strawberry mousse.
Tickets, $120, include wine pours throughout the night. Call 795-7494.
