Celebrity Chef Invitational 2014 raises nearly $44,000 for student scholarships

by Michelle Saport  |   

The 2014 Celebrity Chef Invitational featured the culinary creations of Chef Alfio Celia, executive chef of Carluccio's USA.

The 2014 Celebrity Chef Invitational featured the culinary creations of Chef Alfio Celia, executive chef of Carluccio's USA.

The 22nd annual Celebrity Chef Invitational took place on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Lucy Cuddy Hall on UAA's campus. The sold-out event highlighted the culinary creations of Chef Alfio Celia, executive chef of Carluccio's USA-a U.K.-based Italian restaurant.

The invitational featured a five-course extravaganza prepared by Celia, who was assisted by five of Anchorage's most respected and prominent chefs. An Anchorage chef led the execution of each course, with the assistance of UAA's talented culinary arts and hospitality students. Volunteers from sponsoring companies also participated, getting a unique behind-the-scenes look at how the kitchen and bakery operate during the black-tie event.

The invitational is a fundraiser to support scholarship opportunities and maintenance of state-of-the-art learning facilities for the UAA Culinary Arts and Hospitality & Restaurant Management programs. This year's event raised nearly $44,000 for the UAA Culinary Arts and Hospitality Scholarship Fund.

About Executive Chef Alfio Celia Chef Alfio Celia began his culinary career when he was 13, beginning in a deli learning the fundamentals of simple Italian cuisine. After mastering the basics of pizza and soup, Chef Alfio progressed to more complex dishes and techniques, always forging ahead, looking to become a superior chef. He mastered his skills at L'Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and completed his externship at Volt by Bryan Voltaggio in Frederick, Maryland.

He went on to open his first restaurant at age 22, immersing himself in both catering and private chef work in Washington, D.C. For his innovative and creative work with ingredients, Chef Alfio placed first in Food Network's premiere episode of "Kitchen Casino." Chef Alfio is currently dividing his time between Washington, D.C., and London as executive chef for Carluccio's-a U.K.-based Italian restaurant. He will open the first U.S. Carluccio's in Washington, D.C., and spearhead additional openings both in the District of Columbia and across the U.S.

Local Anchorage Chefs

  • Chef Luke Doherty, executive chef, Sacks Café
  • Chef Matt Little Dog, area chef, NMS (MUSE, Varsity Sports Grill-Alaska Airlines Center, Creekside Eatery-Gorsuch Commons)
  • Chef Guy Conley, executive chef, Fat Ptarmigan
  • Chef Brie Lauren, executive chef, Bridge Seafood Restaurant
  • Chef Leah Gallahorn, executive chef, Simon & Seafort's (UAA Culinary Arts Alumna)

2014 Celebrity Chef Invitational Slideshow Watch a slideshow of the 22nd annual Celebrity Chef Invitational.

Photos by Philip Hall, photographer, UAA Office of University Advancement Story by Jessica Hamlin, senior PR specialist, UAA Office of University Advancement Originally posted on the CTC Insider blog

Creative Commons License "Celebrity Chef Invitational 2014 raises nearly $44,000 for student scholarships" is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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