No one would have minded one bit if dessert had been served first at the sixth annual Chocolate, Champagne and Chefs, a sweet fundraising dinner to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Indian River County, held last Monday at the Quail Valley River Club.
An exquisite dinner, prepared by Quail Valley Executive Chef Joe Faria, featured pan-seared swordfish and roasted beef tenderloin with a shallot and red wine sauce. It was a wonderful meal by itself, but people still saved room for the sweet finish – chocolate ganache, chocolate silk pie, chocolate pecan empanadas, chocolate bark and other gooey goodies. Sighs of happiness came from every corner of the room.
A mini-version of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, the desserts were deliciously created by local chefs Robert Angel, Quail Valley; Stephane Becht, Windsor; Chris Bireley, Osceola Bistro; Tim Blouin, Grand Harbor; Adrienne Drew, Adrienne Drew Catering; and Scott Varricchio, Citrus Grillhouse.
BBBS is a case management supported organization which monitors children throughout the mentoring process. “Bigs” [adult mentors] and “littles” [children] are partnered based on common interests and personalities to ensure successful long-term pairings.
“I am kind of a kid at heart so we go bowling, golfing, out to eat or enjoy a movie,” said Michael Weed, who has had an advantageous five-year pairing with Daniel Christensen.
Having no other close adult male relationship, Christensen said he looks up to Weed for friendship and encouragement. He is now on his school’s tennis team, his grades are steady and he feels like he fits in better socially with his classmates.
“Mike is kind of like a father to me,” said Christensen. “It has been a great thing for me to have joined Big Brothers because I have gotten so many opportunities through Mr. Mike that have helped me at school.”
“You have to remember that he was 8 years old when we met and now he is 14, so I have sort of watched him grow up,” said Weed. “It has been such a rewarding experience for both of us and now we are friends too.”
Sponsor Brad Lorimier feels the same way. He and wife Mary Jo had supported BBBS together, and when she passed away last spring his “little” helped him get through a tough period.
“He is a delightful little boy,” said Lorimier of the 5-year old child he mentors. “I work with him in his reading program at school and it has really been important to me. I really see a difference in him in his classes and he sees it in himself too.”
The Indian River Community Foundation was this year’s event honoree.
“We are rather honored that it comes from a group like Big Brothers Big Sisters because they are doing tremendous work here in the community,” said Robert Puff Jr., the foundation’s chairman. “Our primary role has been to connect philanthropists with worthy charities like BBBS. We applaud them for their pre-K reading programs, which supports Moonshot Moment, a program to make sure children are literate by the third grade which we have made a commitment to for the next two years.”
A huge success, the event raised $26,000 on the live auction alone, and twice as many bicycles as last year were sponsored at $1,000 each, meaning 12 youngsters would receive a bike at Christmas.
Enthusiastic auctioneer John Moore even convinced Chef Varricchio of Citrus Grillhouse to increase his six-course tasting for six people to a tasting for ten; selling three of them instead of just one.
“I have been working with this committee for the last two years. They are the best group of people I have ever worked with, and Joanna Meyers [event creator] was a sheer pleasure to work with and a great leader. Everything was outstanding but I would be telling a story if I did not say the chocolate was absolutely fabulous,” said committee member Sherry McMahon.
