PebbleCreek’s Roaring Twenties table top entry
Susan Knox Wilson
It was everything a gala should be; glamorous women in sparkling gowns, handsome men in pin-striped suits and fedoras, costumed waiters, beautiful decorations, amazing food, specially selected wines and Mr. Robson with his little white dog. Festive, fun, fabulous!
It was the fourteenth annual Chef’s Gala, held January 24 in the spectacular Robson Ranch Clubhouse, where Chefs from SaddleBrooke, Robson Ranch Arizona, Robson Ranch Texas, Quail Creek and PebbleCreek competed for the coveted Chef’s Gala Award. The event was created in 2004 by George Atwell, vice president of Food & Beverage Operations, Robson Communities Inc., and has grown over the years to be one of the highlights of the season. Each year the Chefs pick a protein out of a hat and create their own menu around their protein choice. Planning for the event starts a year in advance.
In addition to the chef’s competition, a table top competition was held and the theme for this year’s event, The Roaring Twenties, was creatively interpreted by competing banquet and event managers in their displays.
A limited number of tickets are available for each community and it is the 300-plus attendees who sample the food and wine, judge the presentation and then vote for the winning Chef and his team. This year Robson Ranch Arizona Chef Charlie Kassels took the trophy with his presentation of Braised Short Ribs, Truffle Mashed Potatoes and Foie Gras Torchon which he paired with a glass of Shatter Grenache.
PebbleCreek Executive Chef Frank Caputo and his team should have won with their superb Habanero Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, Purple Sweet Potato Puree and Jicama-radish and Green Papaya Salad, paired with Arsonist Estate Red Bordeaux. In fact, several PebbleCreek attendees considered demanding a recount—but decided they were having too much fun to protest!
Many PebbleCreek attendees also thought they should be able to vote on an award for best bus ride to and from the event. This year’s bus/event organizers, the gracious and delightful Theresa Evans, Joy Hertz and Molly Lisowski, deftly served delicious appetizers and wine on the ride to the event and arranged for a hilarious DVD screening of the old TV show The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast to keep us laughing all the way home. What a roaring good time!