Third Annual Garces Foundation Gala: Get Your Tickets and Giveaway!

The Garces Foundation announces the Third Annual Garces Foundation Gala, to be held on Wednesday, October 29 at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The Garces Foundation’s goal is to see that Philadelphia’s vibrant and growing immigrant community has access to the care and education they need so that they may actively contribute their talents to making this city truly world-class. The Foundation focuses on impactful and creative responses to specific issues that plague this community.

“The Garces Foundation was created in 2012 as a way to share our passion for helping others and to create programming that will allow us to serve as guardians of Philadelphia’s immigrant community,” says Chef Jose Garces, one of the nation’s most successful and prolific restaurateurs. “We are proud to contribute to the health and well-being of Philadelphia’s immigrants.”

The theme of the Gala is Think Local/Give Local. Chef Garces has handpicked a group of local chefs to deliver an unforgettable epicurean experience, which will highlight Philadelphia’s unique culinary talent in the Kimmel Center’s rooftop garden and plaza. Each dish will highlight locally sourced ingredients. Throughout the evening guests will enjoy cocktails made with local spirits, local beer, locally created décor elements and more.

The evening will be divided into two parts: Chef Tasting Dinner and Main Event Chef Experience. The Chef Tasting Dinner will be held in the Kimmel Center’s Dorrance H. Hamilton Rooftop Garden. From 5:30 p.m.-6:15 p.m. VIPs will enjoy a private cocktail reception with the chefs on Tier 2 of the Kimmel Center before heading upstairs to the rooftop Hamilton Garden to enjoy a three course family style seated meal by Jose Garces, Eli Kulp, Rich Landau, Kevin Sbraga, Peter Serpico and Greg Vernick. Chef Tasting Dinner seating is limited to 200 people and is only available to sponsors and their guests.

General Admission to the Gala opens at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $200 each. Guests will enjoy tastes of local dishes by Garces Group Chefs including David Conn (Tinto), Kyle Baddorf (Garces Trading Company), Adam Delosso of Garces Events, Maria Schmidt (Amada), Jose Olmeda (Rosa Blanca) and a Volver experience by Natalie Maronski. The gala also features chefs Jon Cichon (Lacroix), Jason Cichonski (Ela, The Gaslight), Nicholas Elmi (Laurel), Chris Kearse (Will BYOB), Josh Lawler, (The Farm and the Fisherman) Adam Leonti (Vetri), Jeremy McMillan (Talula’s Garden), Jeff Michaud (Osteria), Masaharu Morimoto and Ben Dayag (Morimoto), Brett Naylor (Oyster House), Jeremy Nolen (Brauhaus Schmitz), Chris Paulikas (coZara), Konstantinos Pitsillides (Kanella), Ben Puchowitz (Cheu Noodle Bar), Chip Roman (Blackfish, The Treemont), Scott Schroeder (South Philly Taproom, American Sardine Bar), Brad Spence (Amis), Tim Spinner (La Calaca Feliz, Cantina Feliz, Taqueria Feliz), Marc Vetri (Vetri Family), Townsend Wentz (Townsend), Hiroyuki Zama Tanaka (Zama) and Peter Woolsey (Bistrot La Minette, La Peg). The sponsors will join the rest of the guests downstairs at 8:30 p.m. for dessert, cocktails, dancing to the Hip Philly band, and a silent auction. Alicia Vitarelli of 6ABC and Darrell Martin of Hip Philly will emcee the event. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at www.garcesfoundation.org/gala or via check c/o Trinity Busch: Garces Foundation, 212 Race Street, Suite #1A, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

In 2012, the Garces Foundation was founded as a way to help others among Philadelphia’s immigrant community. The foundation raises funds to provide this community with medical, educational, and nutritional programming. The goal is for them to take advantage of these resources so that they may actively contribute their talents to making this city truly world-class. In 2013, the Garces Foundation served over 495 people in the community.

The auction can be found online at: bidpal.net/GFgala

Highlighted luxury Items inclue:
Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival Fifth Anniversary Package Sponsored by M&T Bank
The Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival is the premier epicurean destination event in the Pacific. Set in the lush island paradise of Hawai‘i, our seven-day Festival features a roster of over 80 internationally-renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers. Co-founded by two of Hawai‘i’s own James Beard Award-winning chefs, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, the Festival in Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Honolulu, and Ko Olina Resort will showcase wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, one-of-a-kind excursions, and exclusive dining opportunities with dishes highlighting the state’s bounty of local produce, seafood, beef and poultry. Also included are the following cookbooks: Roy’s Fish and Seafood by Roy Yamaguchi & The Blue Tomato by Alan Wong

The winner will receive a $1,000 American Express Card to use towards flight and hotel. Travel accommodations provided by M&T Bank.
Value $2,000
Minimum Bid currently on BidPal
Buy it Now on BidPal: $5,000

Luna Farm Collaborative Dinner with Jose Garces, Eli Kulp, Rich Landau, Kevin Sbraga, Peter Serpico, and Greg Vernick
A once in a lifetime dinner for 20 guests at Luna Farm in Bucks County. Join Chef Jose at his farm for a “farm to table” collaborative dinner prepared by our five prominent Chef Tasting Dinner chefs: Eli Kulp, Fork; Rich Landau,Vedge; Kevin Sbraga, Sbraga; Peter Serpico, Serpico; Greg Vernick, Vernick Food and Drink. This elite dining experience also includes wine pairings.
Value: Priceless
Minimum Bid currently on BidPal for pre-bidding: $30,000
Buy it now: $40,000

Private Dinner for (6) with Marc Vetri & Jose Garces at Vetri
Enjoy an unparalleled dining experience for six (6) by renowned chefs, Marc Vetri and Jose Garces at Vetri (1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107). You and your guests will enjoy a private tasting menu dinner including wine pairings. Valid Monday-Thursday
Value: $1,600
Minimum Bid currently on BidPal for pre-bidding : $1,600
Buy it now $4,000

The foundation currently runs three of its own programs that improve the health, language, cultural skills, and nutrition of Philadelphia immigrants. The first is a quarterly Community Health Day hosted at Garces Dental Group where uninsured patients can receive free dental care, physicals, and medical screenings. The second is an applied learning English as a second language class for restaurant workers, English for the Restaurant and Everyday Living, which aims to narrow the language and cultural gap in the workplace and beyond. Last, the foundation hosts summer Luna Farm Field Trips to the Garces family farm, where children grow and harvest fruits and vegetables, cook their own healthy lunch from the produce they harvest, and practice fun ways to exercise.

In addition to its own programs, the Garces Foundation supports an after school and summer tutoring program for 70 Mexican children led by Puentes de Salud at Southwark School. The foundation also supports The Philadelphia School’s diversity outreach and scholarship fund for Hispanic and Latino students.

Penn Appétit is giving away a pair of tickets to this incredible event. (You can see how amazing the Garces Gala is in our recap of last year’s event.) Want them? Email us by the end of the week at pennappetit DOT blog AT gmail DOT com with a blurb about your favorite Garces restaurant and why.