Fancy Pants Foodie

Foodie news, reviews and how-tos from Arkansas and beyond.

Rawking Out Chef Ball Tonight

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Forget the other award shows — the place to be tonight is Pulaski Technical College for the 2012 Chef Ball. This event, hosted by the Arkansas Chapter of the American Culinary Federation, celebrates the state’s practicing and training culinarians.

The event features several expertly-prepared courses, each prepared by a different chef (most of whom are instructors at PTC’s Arkansas Culinary School) and a team of student assistants.

Follow me tonight on Twitter (@ARFoodie) for live photos and updates. For now, salivate over this incredible artisan bread (pugliese, sesame crackers and focaccia) made by instructor Chef Billy Ginocchio.

2011 Chef Ball this Sunday

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PTC ACS instructor Chef Cindy East-Malik (they spelled her name wrong!) and Chef Bob Wolf appear on KTHV Ch.11 promoting the Chef Ball.

Yes, all the food events seem to swarm lately, with Diamond Chef preliminaries just wrapping up.

But if you love amazing food — not to mention a grand show of local culinary mastery — you need to be at the Chef Ball at Pulaski Technical College this Sunday night, March 20, 6 p.m. for hor d’oeurves and 7 p.m. for dinner. If it sells out, at least check back here at Fancy Pants Foodie for some photos and such. The event is held by the American Culinary Federation Central Arkansas Chapter, and tickets are $125.

Diners will enjoy a six-course meal prepared by some of Arkansas’ best chefs, including many instructors from Pulaski Technical College’s Arkansas Culinary School. Think you have a good palate for picking out ingredients? Each course will include a mystery ingredient that will be revealed during the dinner.

Participating chefs are: Chef William Ginocchio, CEC, PTC Arkansas Culinary School; Chef Coby Smith, CEC, Fox Ridge Retirement Community; Chef Jamie McAfee, CEC, Pine Bluff Country Club ; Chef Cindy East, CEC, PTC Arkansas Culinary School; Chef Dan Capello, CEC, Chenal Country Club; and Chefs André Poirot & Heidi Eppling, Peabody Hotel.

Sounds like fun to me! I’d buy a ticket, but I get to watch for free because I’m helping serve folks at the event and all. Or, I may be cooking behind the scenes. Either way, I’ll get a unique look that you’ll want to read about later.

To buy a ticket or get more info, contact Renee Jeffrey at Pulaski Technical College Arkansas Culinary School.