CHEF, the Culinary & Hospitality Education Foundation of Southwest Florida, filmed the 2021 CHEF Showdown competition on Monday, February 1, 2021, in front of a live studio audience limited to just 20 VIP guests due to social-distancing guidelines. The Workshop demonstration kitchen at Luminary Hotel and Co. was the perfect setting for a cross-county duel between Aielli Group’s Corporate Executive Chef Jason Goddard from Naples, challenged by La Trattoria Cafe Napoli’s Executive Chef/Owner Gloria Jordan from Fort Myers. Each culinary wizard worked their magic to create a WOW appetizer dish using Mystery Basket ingredients curated by Sails Restaurant’s acclaimed culinary team in Naples. Pantry ingredients were provided by Luminary Hotel & Co. the newest Marriott Autograph Collection boutique hotel in downtown Fort Myers.
You are invited to donate to CHEF and receive a special link to access the 2021 CHEF Showdown and Auction event online on March 22, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Visit www.event.gives/chef for details and to purchase virtual viewing ticket.
The esteemed judging panel included Chef Asif Syed, Chef Harold Balink, and Chef Tony Ridgway. Chef Brian Roland of Crave Culinaire Companies emceed the CHEF Showdown (pictured above with Chefs Jason and Gloria). The judges’ results will be unlocked and announced during CHEF’s March 22, 2021 virtual fundraising event.
ABOUT CHEF
CHEF was established in 2004 as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission to raise scholarship funds to benefit Collier and Lee County students to pursue their degrees and careers in the culinary arts and hospitality industries. To date, more than $350,000 in scholarships and grants have been awarded through CHEF’s donor-advised fund administered by the Collier County Community Foundation. Visit www.chefswfl.org.
