Food challenge raises funds for children

Written by Phil Cerroni

By Amanda Casanova

Participants raised about $50,000 for Captain Hope’s Kids in this year’s first Chili and Chocolate Challenge held at The Studios at Las Colinas.

The Oct. 20 event benefitted Captain Hope’s Kids, a foundation that helps homeless children. The inaugural challenge drew about 150 people ready to cook.

“Everybody loved it,” said Jeanne Reyer, executive director for Captain Hope’s Kids. “We were laughing from beginning to end. It was a very unique event and really liked by everybody.”

The event was based on popular reality show “Iron Chef.” Each table of 12 competed against other tables to prepare the best dinner and dessert.

“There was just a pile high with pots and pans and utensils and 8-foot tables filled with food and produce and then refrigerators filled with meat and chicken and fish and everybody at your table was against the other table,” Reyer said. “It was like bedlam at the beginning of the competition with everyone scrambling for what they could grab.”

Awards were given for several categories, including best tasting dishes, best dessert and best presentation.

“Then everybody eats,” Reyer said. “It was a lot of fun.”

In 2011, Captain Hope’s Kids helped more than 33,000 homeless children in the Metroplex.

“We’re hoping to double what we raised this year next year,” Reyer said. “We need this type of event to continue to help those homeless kids.”