Ohio Chefs Compete for a Cause

We were thrilled to meet 100+ new supporters at our first event in the state of Ohio. It was our first event in the Buckeye State, where we have served over 300 food service workers in crisis over the past nine months. Together, we raised over $15,000 to support even more members of our industry.

With the funds raised that night, Giving Kitchen can provide 13 months of rent to food service workers and their families. This year has brought both incredible growth in the number of workers we have serviced AND tremendous crisis for our fellow food service workers. This work is more critical now than ever.

The Columbus community came together for a little friendly competition as five local chefs prepared dishes inspired by beers from Maumee Bay Brewing Company.

The teams from Shawnee Station Tap Room Kitchen and Fado Pub and Kitchen were wonderful hosts and the event would not have been possible without their coordination.

Todd Kessler, executive chef at Valentina's, took home the trophy from our panel of judges with his Drunken Clams and Kielbasa (paired with MBBC’s Belgian Triple). And Madison Cullman, chef at Fadó Pub & Kitchen Dublin, was the crowd favorite with her Sticky BBQ Ribs (paired with MBBC’s Root Beer).

Please join us in giving a heartfelt “thank you” to the following partners. Consider supporting them as a thank you for uplifting and powering Giving Kitchen’s work.

Thank You to our Partners

Food & Beverage Partners

Chefs

  1. Travis Hyde, Executive Chef, Shawnee Station Tap Room | Kitchen

  2. Madison Cullman, Chef, Fado Pub & Kitchen Dublin

  3. William "Burke" Cornelius, Chef, Gallo's Pizza & Bar Dublin

  4. Eric Allchin, Executive Chef, High Bank Distillery Grandview Heights

  5. Todd Kessler, Executive Chef, Valentina's

Beverage Partners

Food Partners

Media Partner

Stroll Muirfield Village

Special Thanks

  • Russell Baron

  • Rosie Barron Ochoa

  • Tod Bowen

  • Adam Caplan

  • Janay Clark

  • Brian Cooper

  • Bjamyn Greig

  • The Gaskill Family

  • Mark Kelnhofer

  • Courtney Montgomery

  • Bob Vitale

Cocktails on a table

Join us again in June

The team behind Chef's Challenge is organizing a sister event: Giving Kitchen Bartender's Challenge!

We're bringing some of the best mixologists from the Columbus area together to compete in a cocktail competition.

Save the date for June 23, 2025 and plan to join us at Fadó Pub & Kitchen in Dublin for another great opportunity to eat, drink and support food service workers.

News & HappeningsTaylor Olmstead