James Beard ‘Best Chef South’ coming to Celebrate Hope
The tasting is set for 5:30 p.m. prior to Celebrate Hope, a yearly gala at MCI that showcases dishes from top local chefs paired with wines and craft beers.
James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Hastings will host an exclusive tasting on Thursday, Nov. 21, for sponsors of the 11th annual Celebrate Hope at USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute in Mobile.
Chris and Idie Hastings are co-owners of Hot & Hot Fish Club, an award-winning restaurant that was one of the first farm-to-table eateries east of the Mississippi. The couple also own OvenBird, a casual Birmingham restaurant that focuses on Southern ingredients inspired by the live fire traditions of Spain, Uruguay, Portugal and Argentina. Chris Hastings was honored with the James Beard Best Chef South Award in 2012.
“Chef Hastings is one of the most recognized and honored chefs in the South,” said Kelly McCarron, associate vice president, medical affairs, for USA Health Development. “We’re excited that our sponsors will have the chance to become engaged with him as part of their overall support of the Mitchell Cancer Institute.”
The tasting is set for 5:30 p.m. prior to Celebrate Hope, a yearly gala at MCI that showcases dishes from top local chefs paired with wines and craft beers. Local restaurants participating in Celebrate Hope this year include Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Pour Baby, Von’s Bistro, Five, Roussos, Half Shell Oyster House, Chef Cassie Powers, Wintzell’s Oyster House and Wai Wai Poke Cafe.
Sponsorships begin at the $1,000 level. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor this year, please contact Casey Hitson at 251-460-6209 or caseyhitson@southalabama.edu. Individual tickets to Celebrate Hope, set for 6:30-9:30 p.m., are $175 and may be purchased online at usahealthsystem.com/events/celebrate-hope.
Since its inception, Celebrate Hope has raised $3.1 million for basic cancer research at the Mitchell Cancer Institute, the only academic cancer research and treatment facility in the region. Proceeds will support research projects involving ovarian and breast cancer.
“This year, we’ve selected two research projects that could have a significant impact on women in our region and beyond,” McCarron said. “One study explores whether DNA damage can predict how ovarian cancer patients respond to treatment. The other project targets the treatment of breast cancer with a novel mitochondrial therapy.”
