The third annual Celebrity Chef Harvest Dinner to benefit The Greenhouse Project will take place Nov. 12 from 5:30 PM – 9:00 pm at Café at Adele’s in Carson City. The event features a six course pairing of fine wine and food as prepared by Charlie Abowd, Adele’s chef and owner, and guest chef Mark Estee of Campo, recently named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America. The event is anticipated to sell out quickly, as seating is limited at 90 guests
The Greenhouse Project was initiated in concept by Karen Abowd, Carson City Cultural Commission member and co-owner of Café at Adele’s. The original focus of hanging flower baskets through Carson City’s business district grew to a broadened vision of a community facility that provides a hub for people of all ages to engage in cooperative, healthy activity. Today, The Greenhouse Project provides educational and vocational programs that create a source of fresh produce for local food banks and school programs. Nearly 4,500 lbs. of produce has been cultivated this year and donated as the only fresh produce component for the Ron Wood Family Resource Center and Friends in Service Helping (FISH).
This year, the Harvest Dinner has been sponsored by Karen’s son, Eric Abowd, and his company Abowd & Rose Financial Group. Eric believes his contribution to the cause was natural, following in the footsteps of his parents’ lifelong commitment to community service and their passion for the Harvest Dinner event. “This year we are covering the $6,300 cost of the event so that each $200 ticket they sell will contribute to the bottom line and be reinvested in the community,” said Eric Abowd. Funds raised will support the 80-student strong Ag program including a Future Farmers of America group that operates out of the greenhouse, the assembly of 61 flower baskets created by special needs youth for real life work training experience and then displayed through the center of Carson City, self-sustaining food production, and a newly created community cut flower program. Additional sponsorship opportunities during the Harvest Dinner and every day include a Garden Brick Sponsorship ($100), Planter Sponsorship ($150), and a Planting Table Sponsorship ($200).
“Mark and Charlie have a lot in common, including being invited to cook at theJames Beard House,” said Karen Abowd. “Because of their frequent communication and respect for each other’s talents, Mark was the natural fit for the celebrity chef for this year’s event. The buzz between the two chefs about the pairing menu is at a fever pitch and we anticipate several delightful surprises, including a collaborative charcutiere sampling, veggie risotto, and gourmet pizza made with fresh peppers and tomatoes grown at The Greenhouse Project.” A full pairing menu will be released this week on the Adele’s and The Greenhouse Project websites.
