Join us for the Sept. 28 Opportunities for Education Scholarship Fundraiser

This is your personal invitation to attend the 2023 Opportunities for Education Scholarship Fundraising event on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Food Innovation Center in downtown Kalamazoo. 

Signature dishes from area restaurants including WL Social House and Brick and Brine will be offered, along with creations by Kalamazoo Valley culinary instructors Chef Lucas McFarland and Chef Stephanie Hughes-Winfrey and outstanding culinary students. Bell's beer, wine and water will also be available.

Items on the menu include: green chili pork tostada: pork chili verde, fresh pico, guacamole, queso fresco, refried beans, wood oven roasted salsa, fresh cilantro; Jameson spiked vanilla custard, chocolate mousse, local fruit, cookie crumble, whipped cream; chicken adobo flat bread: braised filipino style chicken adobo over grilled flatbread with cilantro crema, cabbage slaw, and pickled onion; sprouted mushroom cake erved over a goat cheese mousse topped with herb salad.
 

Tickets are $100 each or $35 for students. Purchase tickets at www.kvcc.edu/foundation. 

To help us reach our goal of $125,000 for students with financial needs, please consider purchasing one of these special packages:
 

Package 1
Wine Loft Social House - Five-Course Wine Pairing Dinner for Six ($1,500)
Enjoy a fabulous five-course special menu created by Chef Ryan Fields for up to six people, paired with wines chosen by the restaurant's beverage expert and general manager Stephanie Larsen. With a modern Chicago feel, enjoy the gourmet talents of the Wine Loft Social House culinary team. Indoors, or weather permitting outdoors on the patio, this dinner will be a classy experience you won't forget! Available Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Expires Sept. 1, 2024. Excludes holiday bookings and private events.

Package 2 -SOLD
Brick and Brine - Tasting Menu for 10 ($800-900) SOLD
Enjoy a delicious tasting menu in the Brick and Brine Kitchen Table for up to 10 people, created by Chefs Andrew Carpenter and Will Fraser. Epicurean delights for all! (FOOD ONLY).

Package 3
Bougiee Eats ($350)
Host a three-course cooking experience with Chef Sharnice West, one of the featured OFE chefs, right in your own home. Chef Shar is a graduate of Kalamazoo Valley's culinary program. She is currently working as the owner and operations manager of Bougiee Eats which she founded in 2018 with the dream of doing small caterings and private chef experiences for current and future clients.

Her prior work experience consists of food service leadership, dietary management, customer service, waitressing, bartending and production and institutionalized management within the Kalamazoo area. Her services at Bougiee Eats include providing meals for open houses, social gatherings, night club scenes, sip and paints, private dinners, drop-off meals, birthday parties, bridal showers, conferences, chef challenges and much more. 

Package 4
Granor Farms ($1,000)
Guests are invited to the Granor Farm's Greenhouse in Three Oaks for a multi-course and family-style meal for four individuals featuring that day's harvest of vegetables, greens and grains as well as meats, cheeses and fruits from the region. Each farm to table meal at Granor is unique with the menu created and prepared by Chef Abra Berens, a semi-finalist for the 2023 James Beard Award for Best Chef Great Lakes, along with the Granor kitchen team. Reservations based on availability. The person who purchases this package will be provided with a discount code to book tickets directly on the Granor Farm website. If booking a higher-priced dinner, purchaser will be responsible for paying the difference. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted at the  time of booking. Beverage pairing is included; non-alcoholic options are available. Tickets must be used between Nov. 1, 2023 and May 31, 2024.

Package 5
Social at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's 418 Restaurant ($1,000)
Kalamazoo Valley's culinary and brewing program will host a group of up to 25 people for a special and intimate event. During the event, culinary and brewing students and assistants will pair together beer and small bites made by the respected programs. These small pairings will masterfully blend the flavors, aromatics and sensory components of food and beer in a creative and delicious way. Students, staff and faculty will lead the group through a guided tasting of these pairings and explain the processes and functionality of brewing and cooking. Scheduling will be done to coincide with the curriculum during either the Fall 2023 or Winter 2024 semester. This will be a great opportunity for a fun evening for a work team or family and friends.