Six local chefs are joining together to host a fundraising dinner for the Piedmont Culinary Guild on Monday, March 7. Hosted at The Goodyear House, the coursed meal will feature dishes by Goodyear House chef Chris Coleman, Meshugganah’s Rob Clement, former Stanley and Block & Grinder chef Ben Philpott, Phillip Platoni of retirement community Southminster, culinary instructor Daniel Wheeler, Hannah Riley of The Alternative Chef NC, and Samantha Ward of Wentworth & Fenn. Justin Hazelton of Leah & Louise will provide the cocktails.

Ward inspired the event by asking a group of chefs whether anyone was interested in a collaboration. As the former pastry chef of The Fig Tree, Ward says she missed doing plated desserts in her current role as owner of her own bakery at Camp North End. The resulting conversations led to a group of chefs deciding to organize a fundraising dinner to help the Piedmont Culinary Guild, an advocate of local food from farms to restaurants, get back on its feet as founder Kris Reid comes back on board.

“With as much work as Kris has put into not only PCG but pushing makers, farmers, bartenders, restaurant owners, bakers, everybody, she’s carried a lot of people through the years to make them successful,” Ward says. “All of us just kind of agreed it was our chance to be able to give back. It’s not going to be a million dollars, but it’s going to be a substantial amount to help get her back to where she needs to be.”

Reid made the decision to step down as executive director of the guild when Covid-19 hit in an attempt to help the organization remain mostly dormant but in existence during the pandemic. As restaurateurs, chefs, and farmers struggled to remain in business, even responding to emails from PCG added to the stress, Reid says. Now that the pandemic seems to be easing, Reid will return to her position in addition to maintaining her day job at The Good Kitchen and oversee the transition of several PCG board positions.

The dinner has a high ticket price and limited number of seats, allowing the chefs to focus on making the meal a memorable one. Drink pairings will be included, and the evening will kick off with passed hors d’oeuvres by The Goodyear House staff. Only a few tickets remain; purchase yours here.