ATLANTA — The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Atlanta Chapter hosted their 20th Annual Gourmet Gents event on Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Gourmet Gents, which launched in 1989 is the organization’s signature annual fundraiser. Men in the Atlanta-area were invited to volunteer their time and culinary skills to raise money for the chapter’s service projects. Proceeds from this year’s event, which was hosted by Si-Man Baby, will benefit the organization’s Teens on the Move program, which is their mentoring initiative for disadvantaged teenage girls.
When we approached the first chef station, we met contestant Jared Lignon, who advised us that this was his first year at the event. Lignon prepared a mozzarella, monterey, and pepper-jack cheese quiche, enhanced with bacon bits. Lignon’s co-chef, Kenneth Robinson who has eight years worth of culinary experience pointed out, he’s “been in the kitchen all my life.” His dessert was a tasty key lime cake.
Four year veteran Demetrius Smith said, “Each year I come up with something new.” This year’s specialty was a refreshing citrus holiday punch.
There were a few celebrity faces in the kitchens too, like Brian Jordan formerly of the Atlanta Braves. He assembled an array of desserts that included lemon, chocolate and strawberry cakes and his all-time favorite red velvet cake. The baseball player insisted that he made the desserts himself.
There were a few celebrity faces in the kitchens too, like Brian Jordan formerly of the Atlanta Braves. He assembled an array of desserts that included lemon, chocolate and strawberry cakes and his all-time favorite red velvet cake. The baseball player insisted that he made the desserts himself.
Meanwhile Ryan Hill, of PlayDate US, prepared a succulent chocolate chicken. The gents’ dishes were made with three common ingredients: love, honor and commitment to community. –christian johnson
