Carpenter’s Shelter To Hold Annual Cook-Off

From Carpenter's Shelter: On Sunday, April 28th from 12 noon to 3 pm at The Birchmere, Carpenter’s Shelter will host their annual signature fundraiser, Carpenter’s Cook-Off 2019. Every year, 500 guests attend this delicious event to support Carpenter’s Shelter’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness in Alexandria. During the event, 20 top-rated local restaurants serve samples of their best dishes to guests and compete to win awards. A panel of celebrity judges grants the Best Savory and Best Sweet Awards while attendees of all ages determine the People’s and Kids’ Choice Awards. In addition to sampling dishes, guests can bid on hot ticket items during the live and silent auctions, try their luck at raffles, and listen to live music by the Alpha Dog Blues Band.

At the Cook-Off, Carpenter’s Shelter will also grant the prestigious Val Hawkins Award to dedicated volunteer and champion of the shelter, Ann McMurray. A longtime Alexandria resident, McMurray first started volunteering for Carpenter’s Shelter nearly 30 years ago. Since that time, she has logged countless hours as a front desk receptionist, meal provider, and a member of the Development and Carpenter’s Cook-Off Committee. McMurray also provided early support in Carpenter’s Shelter’s New Heights property redevelopment project.

This year, the celebrity judges panel includes Vikram Sunderam, the James Beard Award-winning executive chef of Rasika and Rasika West End in Washington, DC; Danielle Turner, a personal chef, cooking instructor, and food writer; and Duane Keller, the executive chef of the exclusive Belle Haven Country Club. Participating restaurants include the following: a la lucia, Alexandria Pastry Shop, Bittersweet Catering, Catch on the Ave, Cheesetique, Del Ray Pizzeria, Dishes of India, Evening Star Café, Hard Times Café, Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, London Curry House, Mason Social, Meggrolls, Misha’s Coffeehouse & Roasters, RedRocks Neapolitan Bistro, River Bend Bistro & Wine Bar, Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee, Tempo Restaurant, Theismann’s Restaurant, and The Warehouse.

Corporate event sponsors include Grant Thornton, Passport Auto, PotomacWave Consulting, Access National Bank, Comcast, The Motley Fool, B3 Solutions, Capitol Office Solutions, Cooper Carry, McEnearney Associates, Protiviti Government Services, R&B Inc., Yates Service, Beyer Auto, DKG Promotions, Forum One, HH Logistics Planning, IDI Group Companies, Moss Building & Design, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, and The UPS Store – Old Town.