Mahoning Valley residents are invited to attend a unique, food-related event that is designed to be fun and educational. The fifth annual “Chefs’ Secrets” will highlight the talents of 24 area chefs though a series of cooking classes. Proceeds benefit Sojourner House Domestic Violence Program.

The event will occur from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Metroplex Center in Liberty. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. and the event starts at 4 p.m. The admission cost is $50.

Attendees will choose their class schedules by reviewing the offerings of the different chefs who will teach the various courses. Some chefs are affiliated with area restaurants, while others are local gourmet chefs. The courses include appetizers, side dishes, entrées and desserts. 

After each class, which will last approximately 30 minutes, participants will receive a full portion of the item they learned to cook and then take the food back to the ballroom to enjoy. 
The ballroom will have an exposition area with vendors promoting area food related-businesses.  A&M Party Rentals, Pampered Chef, Grill Stones and Gift Baskets for All Occasions will highlight their businesses. Caribou Coffee will provide coffee. Gia Russa, Great Harvest Bread, 3 Sister’s Café, G&M Sweets, Tropea’s Fine Pastries, and Vino Novello Winery will offer samples of their company food items.

The event also will include auctions, raffles and a cash bar.
Sponsors for the event said “Chefs’ Secrets” was inspired by the popularity of the Food Network and the desire of the public to learn new and exciting cooking techniques.

• Appetizer classes: Thai chicken skewer wrap taught by Chef Gordanna Jelic-Lettieri of Super Suppers; seared ahi tuna taught by Chef Nunzio Scordo of Tapazza; chicken tender Asiago taught by Chef Victor (Pepper) Calautti; baba ghanouj taught by Chef Samia Rajeh of the Phoenician Grill; rustic French country paté taught by Chef Terry Cloonan and sponsored by Huntington Bank; and proscuitto-wrapped goat cheese taught by Chef Leo Delgarbino of Leo’s Ristorante.

• Side dish classes: Mediterranean chicken salad taught by Chef Ron George of the Manor; stuffed grape leaves taught by Chef Marcia Malmer and sponsored by Atty. Philip Q. Zauderer; seafood soup (Cioppini) taught by Chefs Bob and LuAnn Liller and sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Mosca; salad with caramelized pecans and raspberry vinaigrette taught by Chef Sandy Furano and sponsored by Mahoning County Career and Technical Center; red pepper soup taught by Chefs Glenn Stevens and Regina Reynolds and sponsored by Pat and Gerri Ginnetti; and eggplant tomato tower taught by Chefs Phyllis and Tony Olin of AngeNetta’s.

• Entree classes: balsamic filet mignon taught by Chefs Alan and Danielle Donatelli of Dona Vito’s Italian Grille; Hungarian goulash taught by Ernest and Elizabeth Szabo of Paprika Café; hot Sicilian pasta taught by Chef Ken McIntyre of Gia Russa’s; veggie burgers taught by Chef Rev. Alex Hilliard; pasta with grape tomatoes and artichokes taught by Chef Joan Schwebel and sponsored by Sue Malkoff; Irish lamb stew taught by Chefs Joe Sylvester and Jeff Keel and sponsored by D&E Clinic and Turning Point Counseling Center.

• Dessert classes: Italian wand taught by Jim and Susan Tropea of Tropea’s Fine Pasties; peach pie, taught by Chef Susan Silvashy and sponsored by Anne Kay Economus; pumpkin tiramisu taught by Chef Diane Buser and sponsored by Jim and Dee Tripp; chocolate ganache taught by Greg Valent of French Street Café; Gateau de Fiaise taught by Executive Chef Liz Irizarry of the Metroplex Center and Belgium chocolate cheesecake taught by Chef Ellen Harvischak of Clarencedale Cake.

All chefs affiliated with restaurants are donating their time and food.  Private chefs are donating their time and their sponsors will be donating food.

Tickets can be obtained by calling Terry Slifka at 330-743-9275. There are a limited number of tickets and they will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. For more details, visit www.burdmangroup.com and click on “What’s New at Burdman.” Sojourner House is a division of the Burdman Group.