On Tuesday, March 10th, two incredibly talented local chefs stood side by side in the final cook off before our main event. The chefs were given 2 relatively simple tasks to complete. The first was to create a dessert while following one particular recipe. The 2nd, it must be inspired by a beautiful pendant designed by an individual here at EP!C.
Both chefs were given one hour to create a unique dessert using both their cooking skills and their creativity to prepare an unforgettable dessert for our judges. On top of all this, there was one more element that made this night truly special. One of the judges was an individual from EP!C.
This is what makes EP!C the awesome place that it is today. In the short time I've been here, I've realized that EP!C will go the extra mile to ensure that everyone, absolutely everyone gets an opportunity to succeed and be happy. For this reason alone, EP!C takes up a lot of space in my heart. Everyone has a chance to do what they love. I'm completely wheelchair bound and have been for my entire life. I couldn't even tell you how many times someone has told me I can't do something because of my physical condition. EP!C does the polar opposite of that. They tell me I can. Truthfully, we can all do anything we set our minds to. It's very important that we surround ourselves with positive people who tell us we CAN. The individual with EP!C was given a fair shake. She had just as much of a say in who wins as everyone else.
The results of this particular cook off were finally released at the main event on March 26th at Embassy Suites. As people began to arrive at the main event, it was easy to tell that it was going to be a great turnout. It was nothing short of expectations. Hundreds of guests showed up to make Bon Appetite as successful as we'd hoped it would be. There was art created by some very talented individuals with EP!C. There was everything from 16x20 acrylic paintings to uniquely painted piggy banks. Early on in the event, the winner of the March 10th cook off was announced. The winner is..... Chef Castro. Next, it was time to eat. Professional Chef Luca Manfé walked up on stage and prepared a couple of dishes for us while explaining the recipe.
He showed charisma and a great sense of humor as he told jokes, stumbled over his own words and even took a selfie or two. Words simply can't describe what a great time it was for everyone who attended the 2015 Bon Appetite event. It was an EP!C turnout to say the least.
