2016 Chefs Unbridled

September is chock full of great charity events highlighting our area chefs. Luckily, the one that I plan has moved to October this year. That leaves me just open and ready to enjoy the others for the first time!

One that I'm looking forward to attending is the 2016 Chefs Unbridled.

This top Cleveland-area benefit is slated for Saturday, September 17th at 6:00PM to benefit Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center. Leading Cleveland restauranteurs Scott Kuhn and Chris Hodgson of Driftwood Restaurant Group chair the event, and it always has a stellar chef lineup.

⦁ Demetrios Atheneos of Bold Food and Drink (Cleveland)
⦁ Jim Blevins of Butcher and the Brewer (Cleveland)
⦁ Chad Bolar of Pesto’s Pizza & Wine Bar (Chandler, Arizona) – Private Guest Chef
⦁ Adam Bostwick of Graffiti: A Social Kitchen (Cleveland)
⦁ Chris Hodgson and Scott Kuhn of Driftwood Restaurant Group
⦁ Jimmy Linhart and Pablo César Montiel of Lemon Falls Café  (Chagrin Falls)
⦁ John Owens of Market Rocky River & Wine Bar Rocky River (Rocky River/Cleveland)
⦁ Ian Thompson of Cedar Creek Grille (Beachwood)
⦁ Eric Williams of Momocho (Cleveland)

Personally, I'm most looking forward to trying dishes from some of my favorites like BOLD, Graffiti, and Butcher and the Brewer. There will be the new-to-me Lemon Falls Cafe, and then Driftwood and Market have had some of my favorite food at this event in the past. Ok, my mouth is officially watering now. 

Taking place under a decorated tent on the grounds of the prestigious Chagrin Valley Hunt Club Polo Field, guests will enjoy cocktails and appetizers while sampling cuisine from various stations around the tent in addition to tasty treats from a food truck and a cupcake truck. The setting is what really makes this event stand out. New additions for the 2016 event include private vintner getaway packages in Sonoma or Napa Valley, as well as an exclusive Kentucky Bourbon Trail getaway experience, and a wine pull raffle. The evening will also feature live music, horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the historic district of the village, and a bourbon tasting with Tom’s Foolery.  

The event is Fieldstone Farm’s primary benefit to raise money for the Ridership Program to benefit riders with special needs. Fieldstone Farm serves students of all ages, including veterans, who face a variety of challenges, such as anxiety and PTSD, as well as people who have ADHD, blindness, depression, Down syndrome, injuries, multiple sclerosis, and neurological disorders, among other disabilities. Students work with the horses to overcome barriers and achieve goals such as independence, self-esteem, strength, and socialization. Serving more than 1,000 students each year, Fieldstone Farm is one of the largest centers of its kind in the country. 

Ticket prices begin at $140 and include a tax-deductible donation to Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center. Tables and sponsorship packages are still available. Reservations for Chefs Unbridled can be made before September 1st (so don't wait!); however seating is limited and the event sells out quickly each year. For tickets and details, visit the website www.fieldstonefarmtrc.com or contact Maureen Foster at 440-708-0013, ext. 123 or mfoster@fieldstonefarmtrc.com. 

Disclosure: I was provided with two tickets to attend the event in exchange for this preview post. All opinions stated are 100% my own.