Offering a unique blend of culinary artistry and community service, Friends In Deed will be hosting “Cooking for a Cause 2024” on Monday, June 24th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery in Pasadena.
The event, held in partnership with Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery, 40 W. Green Street, aims to raise funds for Friends In Deed programs serving the greater Pasadena area and to highlight the issue of food insecurity in the local community.
Aspiring chefs compete in a high-stakes cooking competition, creating dishes using pantry staples and unexpected “mystery” ingredients sourced from the Friends In Deed Food Pantry.
The competition will last for one hour, after which a panel of expert chef judges will decide the Cooking for a Cause 2024 champion.
Supporters can participate in a live kitchen experience or an on-site viewing party. Sponsorship levels range from $250 to $25,000, each of which includes a mystery shopping list to “try for yourself” at home.
For those who can’t attend in person, a free livestream will be available to watch on the Friends In Deed Cooking for a Cause website: https://friendsindeedpas.org/cookingforacause/ on Monday, June 24 from 6:20-7:30 p.m.
The event is supported by a variety of sponsors, including Barbara Levinson, the Pasadena Methodist Foundation/First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, and chefs Rebel Gunde and Ernest Posey.
Additional sponsors include Connie Holguin, Jennifer and John Robinson at the pastry chef level, along with numerous supporters at the veggie chef, sauté chef and grill chef levels.
Friends In Deed, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (federal tax ID number 95-1644608), encourages participants to complete the cooking challenge at home using a provided mystery basket shopping list.
All event supporters who donate $100 or more will be provided with a list to complete the challenge at home within 48 hours of the live event ending.
The initiative aims to raise awareness about the cost of the groceries the food pantry provides to more than 600 needy families each week.
At-home participants are encouraged to share the meals they make with friends, discuss their experience, share photos on social media and tag Friends In Deed for a chance to win promotional items.
Get the daily Pasadena newspaper delivered to your mailbox for free.
10+ breaking Pasadena news stories delivered to you daily at 7am 7 days a week.
