Chefs of the Burbs Returns to Blue Bell

From the Blue Bell Rotary:

Food, Fun, Philanthropy!  That’s Blue Bell Rotary’s slogan for Chefs of the Burbs, its gala community nosh celebrating its 7^th year on Thursday, October 25th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the Blue Bell Country Club, Route 202 and Tournament Drive, Blue Bell.  The event features hearty appetizers and hors d’oeuvres created by the area’s top chefs, along with complimentary wine and beer, silent and live auctions, a restaurant raffle, 50/50, and live jazz.  Proceeds from the live auction will once again be dedicated exclusively to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County.  Additional proceeds from the event will benefit the Blue Bell Rotary Foundation, which provides assistance to people in need both locally and internationally. Tickets are $60 per person (after Oct. 15th $70) and can be purchased online at http://www.bluebellrotary.org or by calling Rusty Beardsley at 215-498-3007.

“Each year the food has been extraordinary.   Many of the restaurants have participated in all six Chefs of the Burbs, plus once again we’ve added some terrific new restaurants,” says Rusty Beardsley, Blue Bell Rotarian and committee chairman. “To top it off, this year we’re serving complimentary wine and beer!  But there’s more good news.  Univest Bank and Trust Company has joined our team as the primary sponsor of the event.  And the culinary arts students at Montgomery County Community College got such good experience and feedback here last year, that they’ve doubled down on their participation this year.”

Participating restaurants include: L’Angolo Blue, Arpeggio, Blue Bell Country Club, Café Excellence, Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar, The Farmer’s Daughter, Hotel Fiesole, Joseph Ambler Inn, Le Gourmet European Bistro, Mina Cucina Rustica,  Montgomery County Community College Culinary Arts,  Pine Crest Country Club,  P.J. Whelihan’s, Saffron Indian Kitchen, Tex-Mex Connection, Thai Orchid, Trader Joe’s, and Trevi.

Each restaurant and supplier contributes a variety of delicious hot and cold heavy hors d’oeuvres.   Guests receive cooking tips directly from top chefs at serving stations, and waiters ply them with more goodies throughout the ballroom, as they catch up with friends and neighbors. The Wissahickon Jazz Ensemble adds a cool musical touch to the evening’s festivities. 

The silent auction features restaurant gift certificates, sports memorabilia, theater tickets, and a weekend rental of a 2013 Armen Cadillac, as well as choice items from other local retail establishments.  The live auction takes off with tempting, premium items like a deluxe getaway weekend at a fabulous Napa Valley bed and breakfast, a week’s stay at any Marriott Timeshare Resort, or more locally, pamper yourself with an A-1 Limousine for a night on the town, a golf foursome package at Meadowbrook Country Club, a year’s family membership at the Ambler YMCA, and the “James Bond Package”, a 5 day rental of a new Jaguar XJL from the Great Britains of Willow Grove.   All proceeds from these and several other irresistible surprises will benefit Montgomery County’s Habitat for Humanity.

Kim Tobin, Habitat/Montgomery County’s Director of Development, has worked with the Blue Bell Rotarians on Chefs for the past three years, and has found it great fun.  “It’s a terrific way to sample all sorts of cuisines from local restaurants, chat with talented chefs and even pick up some cooking tips.  Of course we’re also looking forward to that spirited live auction!  Its proceeds will help move Habitat closer to completing homes for our qualified waiting families.”  

“The Rotary Club of Blue Bell is all about giving back in meaningful ways,” says Lisa Miller, President of Blue Bell Rotary Club.  “It’s about helping people in need through volunteer service and financial support right here in our community.  That’s why we’re especially pleased that this year’s Chefs of the Burbs will further cement our partnership with Habitat for Humanity. They’ve worked so effectively to build strong, affordable homes for low-income families here in Montgomery County, and it’s now our club’s goal to fund a Habitat home in our area!”  This food extravaganza follows Blue Bell’s successful Rotary/Habitat golf outing held at Blue Bell Country Club in September.

Chef Christopher Tanner, Montgomery County Community College’s Director of the  newly expanding Culinary Arts Institute, will bring more of his protégés to this year’s Chefs of the Burbs.  “My students and I are all excited to be participating again in Chefs.  It’s a great opportunity for them to test their skills and learn both from the professionals they’ll meet and from the diners whom they’ll aim to please. ”   Chef Tanner‘s cuisine team will be preparing “pork bahn-mi,” a Vietnamese sandwich with lemongrass-braised pork,  pickled daikon and carrots,, and his baking students will serve chocolate bacon cupcakes with a lavender buttercream icing.