Childhelp fundraises with '25 Men Who Think They Can Cook'

Celebrity chefs recently went head-to-head in a culinary challenge in the name of fundraising for and increasing attention to the child abuse epidemic.

Founded in 1959 by Paradise Valley residents Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Childhelp is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofits dedicated to eliminating child abuse while meeting the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of all children.

Childhelp’s 11th annual culinary fundraiser, “25 Men Who Think They Can Cook,” was Saturday, June 29 at the High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff, Ariz. It featured a cheeky contest with self-proclaimed chefs and culinary enthusiasts who showcased their culinary skills. Over 500 attendees savored the dishes and desserts prepared by these celebrity chefs. A panel of judges critiqued the dishes and awarded winners in various categories.

The ’50s-themed evening began with a parade of chefs, followed by a culinary tour of edible creations that culminated in the announcement of five winners.

Best Entrée went to Bryan Shanahan of Peak Family Dental for his Chateaubriand. Under the Main Dish category, Alex Gomez was named the winner for his tomato soup, and Dan Ogden took home the gold for his appetizer, the Blackbeard Cuban Roll. Ogden also won Best Decorated Table.

The Best Desserts category resulted in a tie. Todd Atler of McCarthy Building Companies won for his Bananas Foster Crème Brulé along with Tristyn Hatch of Cycle Bar for his Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies.

“This was our best and biggest event ever,” Chair Jill Babb said in the release. “We are so grateful to all who attended, our participating chefs for lending their talents and to all of our sponsors and supporters of Childhelp.”