Novato's Youth and Firefighters Prepare for a Chili Extravaganza as the Countdown Begins!

Novato Youth Center (NYC) participants and Novato Fire Foundation (NFF) Chefs are sharpening their knives and practicing up for the first ever "Novato Youth Chili Academy 2013 Event", to be held at the Center which is located at 680 Wilson Avenue on Thursday, March 14th from 4:00 to 6:00pm. 

As part of the preparation, several Novato Firefighter Chefs came to the Novato Youth Center on Friday, March 1st, to begin preparing fifteen lucky NYC middle school youth who have been selected to participate in this well-spirited competition (see photos).  The focus for Friday was knife safety, and the aroma of chopped onions filled the Center before Chef & Firefighter Marvin Blandon could finish his presentation. 

The next phase of training, which includes recipe development, cooking safety, team-building, leadership, and more, will take place at Novato Fire District Station #61 on Wednesday afternoon, March 6th.  Participants in the Center's 1 Up 4 College Middle School Program will board  NYC vans to tour the  station's commercial kitchen and continue their culinary training - all arranged and  led by the fearless leadership of Chef &  Firefighter Marvin Blandon.  Head Chefs working with the other teams of youth chefs include firefighters Doug Fernandez; Scott Michalik; Owen Valuch and Marc Teldezchi and Chief Erich Mesenburg.  

Members of the event's Judging Panel will be be put to the test, especially Mary Pritchard, Principal of Sinaloa Middle School, where the majority of the competing junior chefs attend school.  Additionally, members of the Judging Panel include: City of Novato Mayor Pat Eklund; PG&E Community Relations Representative Kelli Nevin; Novato Fire Foundation President Farhad Mansourian and Novato Youth Center Board of Director Patty Bennett. This panel's discerning tastebuds and humor promise to spice up the event. 

All proceeds from the Novato Youth Chili Academy Event on March 14th will ensure Novato’s youth stay on a path of academic excellence, leadership, college preparedness and have access to fire and life safety programs.  

Don't miss out on this unique chili-tasting experience while learning some new culinary tips! Attendance at the March 14th event is complimentary, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors:   “5-Alarm”- Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E); “4 -Alarm”, Bank of Marin; “3 Alarm”-W. Bradley Electric; “2-Alarm”, Marin Luxury Cars and “1 Alarm” – Comcast Bank, Coree and Troy Cameron, SF Fire Credit Union  and Umpqua Bank.  Other supporters of this event include Burr Pilger Mayer, Ghirardo CPA, Hennessy Advisors, Novato Police Officers Association, UrbanSitter and Westamerica Bank. 

Both the NYC and NFF are 501c3 non-profit agencies partnering to support the well-being of youth in our community.

 To attend, please RSVP in advance at  http://www.novatoyouthcenter.org/attendanevent.html or by calling (415) 892-1643.