ADA JENKINS CENTER

Ada Jenkins Center’s third annual Food Fight, held October 5, was a huge success. Nearly 300 guests enjoyed samples from 14 area chefs and restaurants, then voted on their favorites in four categories.

This year’s winners:

• Barbeque: Smoke & Go BBQ
• Salad: On the Nines
• Mac-n-cheese:  Much Ado Catering / Davidson Catering Group
• Dessert:   Whit’s Frozen Custard of Davidson

Many thanks to the winning chefs and servers, and everyone who participated, including Bonjour Y’all Bakery, BOUK Catering, The Brickhouse Tavern, Courtney Cooks, Davidson Ice House, Famous Toastery, Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse, Fresh Chef Kitchen, The Fresh Egg, and Mandolino’s Artisan Pizza.

“Even more than our hands-on effort, we enjoyed the opportunity to contribute towards this non-profit fundraiser and be a giving part of the community,” says Pinky Varghese, Director of Dining Services at Davidson College, whose Much Ado catering service participated in the Barbecue, Mac-n-cheese (winner), and Dessert categories.  “We’re proud to help Ada Jenkins raise funds and sustain their mission to help others.”

The Raffle Team – student volunteers from Central Piedmont Community College, sponsored by Primrose Schools of Cornelius and Huntersville – sold raffle tickets for a gourmet 8-burner stainless steel grill, donated by Lowe’s; a Tory Burch wallet donated by Cox Walsh & Associates, filled with more than $300 in gift cards from participating restaurants; a Lake Norman Air  B&B weekend, donated by Handyman Matters; and a “Kids Night” at Flour Power Kids’ Cooking Studios.

The festivities included:

• Beer garden sponsored by Primal Brewery
• AMB Photo booth sponsored by Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery
• Face painting by Tango’s Fun For You
• Soccer cage experience with Ulti Futbol
• … and the sounds of the popular favorite Shades of Brown band.

Other sponsors included CycleSouth; Aquesta Bank;  Brawley, Miller, O’Regan and Associates: Merrill Lynch; C. DeWitt Foard & Co.; Davidson Village Inn; and FIG Marketing.

Thanks to the generosity of this year’s sponsors and guests, together we raised more than $13,000.  All proceeds of the Food Fight will support the Ada Jenkins Center, which has stood for more than 80 years as a hub for education and community support. With services including a medical clinic, dental clinic, food pantry, workforce development, child and adult education, and social work case management, we help neighbors in Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville create lasting solutions for health, education, and economic stability. Last year, we served more than 2,600 individuals and families.