Saving Babies One Bite at a Time
Volunteers have been hard at work planning the 2013 Signature Chefs Auction to be held October 3, 2013 at the stunning McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota Campus. And they’re getting hungry… With this line up, can you blame them?
Honorary Chef:
Landon Schoenefeld, HauteDish
Participating Chefs:
Jorge Guzman, Solera
Anthony Leonhardi, Salut Bar Americain
Carrie Nielsen, Mozza Mia
John Van House, Murray’s Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge
John Kain, Town & Country Club
Vincent Francoual, Vincent A Restaurant
…and more to come!
Come indulge in a night of delectable food, great wines and priceless live and silent auction items. We promise you won’t regret it. Volunteer opportunities, tables and sponsorships are available. Contact Kelly Lange, klange@marchofdimes.com, 612-326-9441.
Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes in high style at the Twin Cities Signature Chefs Auction. Mark this diamond jubilee by sampling the best restaurants in the Twin Cities while bidding on unique auction packages. It’s a night of fabulous food and good company October 3 at the McNamara Alumni Center on the U of M Campus. All proceeds go to benefit the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies.
Our 2013 Honorary Chef is Landon Schoenefeld from the Warehouse District favorite HauteDish. Renowned for putting a twist on classic Midwestern cuisine, Landon will delight guests with a tasting of one of his signature dishes.
Kari Berman is chairing the 75th anniversary celebration. Kari is a shareholder in the law firm of Briggs and Morgan and mom to two thriving 12-year-old twins. Severe complications during pregnancy threatened the day-to-day survival of her babies. Her experience made Kari passionate about helping women have healthy, full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.
The 2013 Signature Chefs Auction will pay tribute to the history of the March of Dimes and the original Birthday Balls hosted by founder President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Birthday Balls ended in 1945 with the death of President Roosevelt. The legacies of the event and FDR live on in the March of Dimes.
The 2013 Signature Chefs Auction will fund March of Dimes research, education and programs like NICU Family Support. A second Minnesota program opened in this spring at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. The first opened at St. Cloud Hospital in 2006.
Enjoy a glass of wine and great conversation with corporate and community leaders as you taste some of the best food in the Twin Cities and bid on the priceless auction packages. Volunteer opportunities, tables and sponsorships are available. Contact Kelly Lange, klange@marchofdimes.com, 612-326-9441.
A night to remember
Our 2012 Signature Chefs Auction was a night to remember. We enjoyed great food from around the Twin Cities and everyone came together to raise $150,000 for babies. Now, reminisce with these beautiful photos taken by Tracy Walsh at Poser Design.
WOW! What a night for babies!
Was it the fabulous food?
Was it the amazing auction packages?
Was it learning about the mission of the March of Dimes and how our organizations help babies like Gertie Guille?
While the food and auction were great, it’s Gertie and babies like her all the way. We are thrilled to announce the Minneapolis Signature Chefs Auction raised $150,000 to help fund the mission of the March of Dimes.
Our Signature Chefs Auction Guests learning about the mission of the March of Dimes.
More than 300 of us gathered Thursday night at McNamara Alumni Center. Primed with beef from Murray’s, scallops from Vincent’s and many more delicious chefs, the live auction started with a bang as an island adventure to Ludlow’s on Lake Vermilion with Chef John Van House serving as your own personal chef and food donated by US Foods sold for more than $11,000.
The bidding wars were fun, but nothing compared to the moment when the crowd opened up their hearts and wallets when they listened to the story of Gertie Guille. Her parents Mike & Cyndy shared the story of Gertie’s premature birth, more than 16 weeks early. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as the Guilles talked about almost losing her, how grateful they are to the doctors and nurses at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital and to the March of Dimes for funding the research and treatments that helped save Gertie’s life. The money raised last night will help fund the opening of the March of Dimes NICU Family Support program at the hospital later this year.
When Cyndy and Mike told Gertie about the success of the event last night – this was her reaction:
All smiles and thanks to everyone at the Minneapolis Signature Chefs Auction
Incredible Live Auction Opportunities
Our chefs have outdone themselves for babies! Tomorrow night, we anticipate some big bidding wars in our Live Auction. Get ready to raise your hand when our auctioneer calls out some of these packages:
Island Resort Getaway with Your Own Personal Chef
Chef John Van House from the legendary Murray’s Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge will travel with your group of 8 to Ludlow’s Island Resort on Lake Vermilion for a weekend of fishing, tennis, boating and relaxing by the fire in your cabin just 50 feet from the water’s edge. Your weekend includes appetizers on Friday and brunch & dinner Saturday & Sunday from Chef Van House and his sous chef. Adventure includes two 20 horsepower fishing boats and a Saturday afternoon historical, interpretive pontoon ride exploring Lake Vermilion. Our special thanks to John and US Food Service!
Outdoor BBQ for 20!
Enjoy beer, wine and a locally-sourced barbecued hog with all the fixings from Chef Jorge Guzman on Solera’s 2nd floor terrace. A live blues band will make this work/family/social event a great night out in downtown Minneapolis.
Chef’s Table for 10 at HauteDish
Savor a 5-course chef’s table with wine pairings personally prepared by HauteDish Chef Landon Schoenefeld as he both embraces and reinvents classic Midwestern cuisine. You can’t buy this at the restaurant!
See what additional live auction packages bidders will be fighting over tomorrow night!
What’s for dinner?
The menus are set and the auction packages are here for the Twin Cities Signature Chefs Auction! Sample delicious dishes including pan seared scallops from Vincent’s, seared pork belly from Town & Country Club, classic French tartare from HauteDish and many more from our fine list of Twin Cities chefs.
We’ll see you Thursday night at 6:00 at McNamara Alumni Center, directions and parking. There is light rail construction in the area, so please give yourself extra time.
Our Signature Chefs Auction will help support the March of Dimes and our mission to improve the health of babies through research, education, advocacy and community programs. Need some inspiration? Meet Gertie Guille, our ambassador, born 16 weeks early weighing less than two pounds. This giggly little girl will melt your heart and inspire your 100% tax deductible donation during our Fund the Mission.
Unveiling our 2012 menu
We’re counting down the days to the Signature Chefs Auction and we can look forward to some scrumptious food. The menus are in! Here’s what you can expect Thursday at McNamara Alumni Center.
Vincent A Restaurant – Pan seared scallops, leeks fingerling potatoes and orange sauce
HauteDish – Classic French Tartare on crostini
Mozza Mia – Prosciutto rollatini & caprese Salad
Murray’s Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge – Roast tenderloin of beef with stilton blue cheese & plum C\canapé
Salut Bar Americain – Dégustation de pâtisseries
Solera-Spanish Coca with smoked ham hock & tomato jam
Town & Country Club – Pan seared pork belly with coconut panna cotta and micro greens
Wise Acre – Wise Acre sausage and kraut puffs
