In Alliance sponsored Sacramento's Preimier Culinary Competition "Celebrity Iron Chef Challenge" with the six of the areas most prestigious Chefs/Bakers Food Beer and Wine representatives on Friday Night April 29, 2011.  The 8th annual Chef Challenge Champion Russell Michel  of "F0x 40 Cafe" served as the evenings emcee at the California Auto Museum.

All the proceeds from last nights event go to In Alliance to support those with developmental disabilities.  All donations will be utilized to facilitate employment opportunites, work and life skills training supported living and community training programs for people with developmental disabilities.

Celebrity chefs, gourmet dishes,collossal cakes, beer and wine OH MY!!!   With Sacramento's own Celerbity Chef Champion Chef Russell at the helm, It proved to be a most decadent and delighful evening of every imaginable delicacy to create a mouth-nificent experience.  Chef Challenge Coordinator Jessica Bean said In Alliance was thrilled to have Chef Russel serve as the emcee of the evening for this years festivities.

Sacramentos top Chefs  weighing in for the competition this year were; Ramiro Alarcon of Tequila Museuo Mayaheul, Richard Pannel of Cuisine Noir Magazine, Jim Turkneet of the Tizcaya Pavillion, Mark Liberman of Black Sheep Butchery, Evan Elsberry of Evan's Kitchen, Keith Erickson of Colusa Casino Resort. 

Each chef was given 45 minutes, five secret ingredients a secret meat, seafood, vegetable, fruit and wild card inrgredients that lmust be utilized to masterfully to create three presentations of culinary masterpiece.  Judges Guy Farris/Sacramento & Co., Melissa Crowley News10, Goodmorning, Bryan May, News 10, State Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, Chef Russell Michel, Morgan’s Restaurant & 8th Annual Celebrity Chef Challenge Champion, Alex Lane, Yelp.com and Michael Anthony, SacDine.com  sampled the areas best wines, beers and epic creations while each of the masterchefs prepared their unimaginable dishes of pure culinary delight.

As the chef challenge was cooking on the main floor of the California Auto Museum, the guests were treated to a plethora of some of Sacramentos finest vendors; Good Eats Grocer, Cup Cake Craving , Colusa Casino Resort, Micho Bags, the Melting Pot, Berryessa Gap Vineyards, Pyramid Brewing colibri Ridge Winery just to name a few.  About 100 vendors participated providing scrumptious samples as well as raffle give aways and door prizes.

As the  chefs waged war for total control of your tastebuds,the scintilating aroma of pure pastry heaven loomed in the background with the  Pastry Chef bake off  "cake war".  Ths is In alliance first Celebrity pastry chef  challenge "Cake War".  The participants; Kristin Platzer from the Institute of Technology, Sheryl Burnett-Ah Po & LaShawn Allen of Buttercream Dreams, Moriah Piper of Moriah's Marvelous Cakes were simply AMAZING. As the judges were being whipped into a culinary bliss with each bite of the Celebrity Chef challenge, tid bits of "cake war" delicacies were being slipped in to deliver the final TKO of the evening in which One Celebrity Chef and one Pastry Chef would emerge victorious.

The guests were in a culinary trance of anticipation and titilation awaiting the culmination of  the "9th Annual Celebrity Chef and Pastry Chef" battle.  Chef Russell provided the most entertaining diversions of jokes and banter with the panel of judge as each chef worked artfully to complete the ultimate dishes and/ or cakes that would determine who would reign as this years Sacramento King/Queen of

As this wonderfully enchanted evening of immeasurable culinary satisfaction, guests all slid to the edge of their seats awaiting the answer to the evenings greatest quandry "who will be TOP CHEF"? The moment of truth when  Dianna DeRodeff, Executive Director of In Alliance makes her way to the mic speaking over the frenzied chatter of the guests to announce the winner.  DRUMROLL PLEASE.......THE WINNERS OF IN ALLIANCE 9TH ANNUAL CELBRITY CHEF CHALLENGE ARE; 3RD PLACE-  Jim Turkneet of the Tizcaya Pavillion, 2ND PLACE- Keith Erickson of Colusa Casino Resort, and last but not least, 1st PLACE WINNER AND KING OF SACRAMENTO'S IRON CHEF CHALLENGE-Evan Elsberry of Evan's Kitchen.

The "cake war' has culminated with each of the pastry chefs turning in the most palatable thrilling feets of culinary excellence.  The winners of the "First In Alliance Cake War" are;  3RD PLACE-Sheryle Burnett-Ah Po & LaShawn Allen of Butter Cream, 2ND PLACE-Kristin Platzer from the Institute of Technology. And the winner of the coveted title of Sacramento's Cake War Pastry Chef Champion; 1ST PLACE-Moriah Piper of Moriah's Marvelous Cakes.

This truly turned out to be the surprisingly magnificent evening under the stars with the Culinary Celebrities of Sacramento showing their stuff why they truly are the " Top Chefs and Pastry Chefs".  With all proceeds going to In alliance serving the community since 1952 to make a better life for people with disabilities in the most beautiful nostalgic California Auto Museum.