A half-dozen chefs will serve a decadent five-course sit-down meal with passed appetizers to start the afternoon’s culinary feast at San Juan Oaks Country Club Sunday at 3 p.m. to raise money for a local domestic violence shelter.
The second annual San Benito County Food and Wine event will feature the meal, wines from local vineyards, and a silent and live auction all to raise money for Emmaus House. Last year’s inaugural event netted $16,000, according to one of the dinner organizer’s, Doug Kuerschner, Jr. Tickets for the dinner are $125 a person and some tickets are still available for those who purchase tickets soon, as a final guest count needs to be in by mid-week.
Danny Mendoza, who worked at Don Ciccios when it was open in San Juan Bautista, will start the afternoon off with the passed appetizer course with Carlos Hernandez, of Heavenly Bakery, finishing the meal off on a sweet note with dessert.
Hernandez has been working at Heavenly Bakery since it opened, but before that he baked the hamburger buns used at Knife and Fork Café, both owned by Sheila Stevens.
Hernandez said he will serve a red velvet cake with white chocolate mousse for dessert, an item that is one of the most popular treats at the downtown bakery.
He said he was looking forward to meeting people at the dinner.
“Locally, I know most of the chefs,” he said.
Last year, Kuerschner said the chefs shared a camaraderie in the kitchen, helping each other plate up their dishes for each course.
Baking origins
Hernandez said he started baking when he was 17 and tried to make a cake for a girlfriend. Since then, he went to school to study baking and has worked in the field for 15 years. His favorite item to bake is bread and that also is a popular item at Heavenly Bakery.
“In baking, you have to measure everything out exactly,” he said. “Flours from different places have different amounts of water.”
He said even with a recipe, a good baker can feel the texture of the dough to know if it needs more moisture. He starts his day at the bakery at 4 a.m. and the length of his day differs, depending on how many special orders he has.
“This is my passion,” he said.
Ella King, of Ella’s Italian Restaurant, and Rob Stevens, of the Inn at Tres Pinos, will also be offering their expertise on a course each. The other two chefs have worked in Monterey County, but grew up locally in San Benito County. Doug Kuerschner III works at Carmel Valley Ranch and Country Club and Sean Shelton worked at Peppoli at the Inn at Spanish Bay, in Pebble Beach.
Along with each course, a locally made wine will be served. The participating wineries include Alicats, Calera, Donati Family Vineyard, Jayse, Pessagno and Teague.
Kuerschner Jr. said he originally got involved in organizing the event last year because he knows a lot of people in the food and wine industry. He helped to line up the chefs who participated last year and will cook this year.
“All the chefs have been willing to help out,” he said. “They are all working for free and supporting the cause.”
In addition to using chefs who have a local connection, Kuerschner Jr. said organizers are also making efforts to keep the food local. The owners of Swank Farm and Morris Grassfed Beef donated items for last year’s dinner, along with the Guerra family donating nuts and olive oil. He said they were still working with the businesses to finalize what items are needed this year.
The dinner is set to start Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. because that is a time that is less busy for the chefs and for San Juan Oaks. With a five-course meal and walk-around appetizer, and silent and live auctions, Kuerschner Jr. said the meal would end around 8 or 9 p.m.
Some of the high-end auction items include a stay in San Diego and lunch and golf for four at Carmel Valley Ranch, along with items from San Benito County businesses.
Hernandez and Stevens said they were looking forward to the dinner on Sunday as a chance to support Emmaus House.
The Best of San Benito County Food and Wine
A benefit for Emmaus House
Oct. 14, 3 to 8 p.m., at San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
Tickets are $125 per person and are available at Richard Shelton Insurance, 719 San Benito St., Ste. B, Downtown Hollister or Postal Graphics in the Nob Hill Shopping Center.
