Chef Gala for Autism Speaks

Well, readers, today is a double dose of blog posts. I was approached today to help promote this weekend's Chef Gala to benefit the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Did you know? An estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a 78 percent increase in six years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis. It is a cause that is near and dear to many, including celebrity chef and hometown boy Michael Symon.

Symon is hosting the Chef Gala on Saturday, August 10th at the Cuyahoga Community College- Hospitality Management Center in Downtown Cleveland. The event begins at 7:00PM (tickets are still available for $150 each), and it includes tastings from quite the impressive lineup of chefs:

- Celebrity Chef Michael Symon, Iron Chef America, Co-host of The Chew
- Chef Rocco Whalen, Fahrenheit, Rosie and Rocco’s Restaurant
- Chef Eric Williams, Momocho
- Chef Chris Hodgson, Hodges Restaurant
- Chef Brian Doyle, SOW Food and Beachland Ballroom
- Chef Jonathon Sawyer, Greenhouse Tavern and Noodlecat
- Chef Matt Mytro, Flour
- Chef Brandt Evans, Pura Vida and Blue Canyon
- Chef Jonathan Bennett, Red
- Chef Britt-Marie Culey, Coquette Patisserie
- Chef John Selick, University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center

This unique, large-scale culinary extravaganza features more than ten of Cleveland’s finest chefs cooking their signature dishes to help raise funds and awareness for families and individuals impacted by autism, and you have a chance to attend.

They have provided me with two passes to give away to one lucky reader! Since the event is happening this weekend, you only have two days to enter. I'll select a winner using random.org on Thursday, August 8th. Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment below, telling me which chef in the lineup is one that you're dying to try.
2. Tweet "I want to attend the #ChefGala this weekend, thanks to @BiteBuff's giveaway at www.bitebuff.com." (leave a separate comment, you can tweet once a day for more entries)
3. "Like" the Autism Speaks Facebook page, and "Like" the Bite Buff Facebook page (leave a separate comment letting me know that you did)

Good luck!

Disclosure: Autism Speaks provided me with two media passes and two tickets to give away in exchange for this post. All opinions stated are 100% my own.