Community gala will feature the work of eight accomplished chefs and five Santa Lucia Highlands producers
MONTEREY, Calif., Feb. 18, 2025 – Community members can savor food and wine pairings by eight standout chefs in one sitting, when the Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA) presents its 50th anniversary gala on March 14. A Legacy of Hospitality will spotlight rising culinary stars, high-profile resort chefs, and five respected Santa Lucia Highlands wineries.
This year’s event was moved to the Monterey Conference Center to accommodate a larger audience. Along with an opening reception and dinner, the evening will include live music, auction packages and an after-party. Special ceremonies will honor Cannery Row Company’s Ted J. Balestreri, recipient of the MCHA Lifetime Achievement Award, and MCHA Hospitality Professional of the Year Sabu Shake, Jr., of The Fish Hopper.
The 50th anniversary festivities will also celebrate the nearly 27,000 people who work in Monterey County’s hospitality industry, while raising funds for education, advocacy and employee recognition programs.
Monterey Marriott Executive Chef Josh Silva-Arias and Chef Todd Fisher, owner of The Meatery, are sourcing local ingredients for the evening’s main course. Multi-course dinners by teams of chefs have become increasingly rare, Fisher explains, and this kind of collaboration means special surprises for guests.
“It challenges everybody. It raises everybody’s game. I don't care who you are, what type of chef you are, or what hotel, restaurant, catering company or business you’re from. When you're working with other chefs, you want to put your best foot forward,” Fisher says.
Santana Rodriguez, founder of the local bakery Qouign, and InterContinental The Clement Monterey Sous Chef Michelle Lee are creating a deconstructed version of a Dubai chocolate bar for dessert. Their take on this crunchy-yet-creamy treat, a trending favorite on social media, will feature pistachio, tahini and kataifi – a form shredded phyllo dough that's been caramelized for sweetness.
Lee believes that connecting chefs from small, family-owned businesses and larger operations sparks culinary creativity. It also strengthens community ties, which is especially important in an ever-changing world.
“These are very divisive and uncertain times,” Lee says. “We throw around the word ‘hospitality’ a lot, without thinking about what it really means. At the heart of hospitality are inclusivity, diversity, unity, and the spirit of just plain caring for each other. I see this event as a celebration of those things.”
Other participating gala chefs are Alvin Quinol (Alvarado Street Brewery), Gian Pepe (Pèpe's Vesuvio), Kurt Boucher (Montrio) and Angela Tamura (Pèppoli at Pebble Beach). The five-course dinner will also feature five Santa Lucia Highlands wine producers: Talbott Vineyards, Scheid Vineyards, Wrath, McIntyre Vineyards and Bernardus Winery. Monterey County's cool coastal breezes make the appellation an ideal place to grow pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah and other cool-climate varietals. The resulting wines are vibrant, versatile and great for pairing with different types of food.
At MCHA’s anniversary gala, guests have the opportunity to meet the grape growers, winemakers and chefs behind each pairing.
“These are friends and family from our local community. You get to sit next to them at dinner and talk shop, talk wine and talk about their favorite dishes. These are the people who make hospitality, fine dining and wine tasting what it is in Monterey County,” says Gwen McGill, executive director of the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans.
MCHA’s A Legacy of Hospitality 50th anniversary gala takes place at the Monterey Conference Center on Friday, March 14, from 6 to 11 p.m. For tickets and event details, visit mcha.net.
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About MCHA
The Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA) provides a unified voice for nearly 27,000 local hospitality professionals. Since 1975, the nonprofit trade organization has protected the interests of employees through advocacy and strong partnerships with local government, elected officials and community groups. MCHA also leads employee recognition events and expands career opportunities through educational programs serving all facets of the hospitality industry. MCHA proudly supports the hospitality and tourism businesses that generate more than $307 million in state and local tax revenues a year, directly benefiting all Monterey County residents. Learn more at www.mcha.net.
Note to editors: Coverage opportunities include interviews with chefs, wineries, award winners and MCHA members.
What: 50th Anniversary - A Legacy of Hospitality, MCHA’s annual awards gala
When: Friday, March 14, 2025, 6 p.m.
Where: Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Event tickets: mcha.net
Media contact: Kristin Horton, MCHA Executive Director, kristin@mcha.net
