The competition was fierce at the Exchange Club of Valdosta’s Cook And Care fundraiser this past Monday evening bringing together Valdosta’s best in the restaurant and catering industry, all for a good cause.  The event, in which all proceeds benefitted the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) of Lowndes County, included the delivery of a mystery basket of ingredients to each competing mixology and culinary team. Quail Branch Lodge in Lake Park, Georgia was packed with supporters of the CAC as they watched teams mixing and cooking live during a specified time frame. In addition to the “Iron-Chef” type show, ticket holders bid on the entrées while enjoying Jessie’s Eat & Treats, listening to live music and emcee Scott James of Talk 92.1, and bidding on silent auction items.

The event featured the following chefs; people’s choice winner, Keira Moritz of Steel Magnolias, Jeff Lind of Gourmet Guys, and winner of the top chef award, Reginald Donaldson of Covington’s Dining & Catering. Mixologists participants were as follows; people’s choice winner Brandon Hayes of The Bistro, winner of this year’s top mixologist award, Mark Renfro of 306 North, and Lowndes County Commissioner Bill Slaughter and Stacy Bush.  Culinary teams presented a three course meal while mixologists presented two cocktails to a panel of judges. The featured culinary judges included; Rebekah Faulk, a food enthusiast, blogger, hostess and entertainer and competitor on Season two of ABC’s The Taste and representing Georgia in Dr. Oz’s Nationwide Healthy Recipe Challenge; Warren Caterson, a chef and full-time writer of “Table for Two – The Cookbook for Couples”; and Dave Snyder, owner and executive chef of Halyards restaurant group of St. Simon’s Island. Mixologist judges were Herb Fiester of Valdosta State University (VSU), Representative Amy Carter, and Paul McLane of Mom & Dad’s Italian Restaurant.

Dedra Hughes, CAC Board Chairperson says, “Thank you to everyone for coming out to enjoy the food and fun and support the CAC." The event highlighted the community’s commitment to assisting the sexually and physically abused children of our area. The CAC provides a child-friendly, safe environment for abused children to talk with specially-trained forensic interviewers in an effort to avoid a child from having to recount the abuse at multiple steps in the legal process. The center then provides mental health care and therapy sessions to children and non-offending caregivers at no charge. In 2013, the CAC provided services to over 471 abused children including 1,515 therapy sessions. For more information about how to support the CAC contact Brittny Hammock at 229.251.1999.