Great chefs to serve a Great Lakes feast at second yearly fundraiser

Traverse City is known for its foodie population and fine chefs, and some of the best will be cooking together Oct. 22 for a fundraiser for the Great Lakes Culinary Institute.

It's the second time the yearly "Great Lakes, Great Chefs" event has been held, and is on Oct. 22 in Lobdell's, the teaching restaurant for Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Culinary Institute. It will raise funds for the institute.

"Northern Michigan's reputation as a great food destination is due in large part to the chefs we will feature at this event," says Fred Laughlin, director of the Great Lakes Culinary Institute. "They will provide a great opportunity for our students to learn, and an evening to be remembered for all who attend."

The participating chefs are: from Traverse City; Myles Anton of Trattoria Stella, Jennifer Blakeslee of Wellington Street Market, and Eric Patterson of The Cook's House; from Glen Arbor, Randy Chamberlain of Blu; from Maple City, Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux, of La Bécasse; Tommy and Marit Kaszubowski of Cava in Bay Harbor and Chandler's in Petoskey; and Michael Peterson of Siren Hall in Elk Rapids and Lulu's Bistro in Bellaire.

The dinner starts at $200 for an individual, with a benefactor's table for six available for a $2,000 donation, and one chef's table for eight, hosted by Chef Harlan "Pete" Peterson among the chefs as they work in the kitchen, for a donation of $3,000.

The menu includes Great Lakes-inspired dishes like duck terrine, seared sturgeon with lobster, rabbit, and Michigan apple and maple syrup desserts. Hors d'oeuvres and wine selections round out the evening. Reservations are required and can be made online.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Fred Laughlin, Great Lakes Culinary Institute