Some of the finest culinary artists in the area have once again joined forces to bring five-star cuisine to local diners to raise money for the NEST Child Advocacy Center.
There are still tickets left for this seasons Montezumas Table five-course dinner with paired wines, scheduled to begin 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
The dinner is fantastic, said Rose Jergens, executive director of the NEST. Its just been pretty brilliant the stuff theyve come up with. It just been such a great community collaboration. It just goes to show that the community does support what we do here.
This time, chefs from Pepperhead, The Farm Bistro and Stonefish Sushi & More will capture the flavors of the Mediterranean and bring them to Cortez.
This year, were doing a tour of the Mediterranean, said Tess Montaño of Pepperhead.
Menu items are expected to include samosas, lamb moussaka, harissa-rubbed prawns, twice-stuffed eggplant, rabbit ravioli, and a tri-grain salad. Desserts include local raw-honey baklava, preserved lemon with homemade ricotta and flambe.
Diners will move from location to location downtown over several hours, starting with a reception and appetizers at Lets Dance Studio, 30 W. Main St. The dinner also offers a chance to meet new people, and see tableside performances by the chefs in the atmosphere of a live Spanish guitarist.
Its a cooperative effort between three restaurants, Montaño said. Chefs go from place to place to place. Its like 25 people who volunteer their evening for this benefit. Its just a really cool cause.
Established in 1993, the NEST offers shelter, therapy and guidance for victims of child abuse to ease the process of testifying in court.
Money raised from the event will provide valuable therapy for children, Jergens said.
Its really hard for us to get money to pay for therapy, she said. If we dont deal with it now, were going to be dealing with it sometime in the future.
If left untreated, victims of child trauma could become bullies or delinquents, she said.
In addition, the center helps with the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.
Thats the whole idea is it being a team approach, Jergens said. Having the therapist there
is pretty critical.
Tickets are $125 and available at Pepperhead, 44 W. Main St., Cortez, 565-3303.
Reach Reid Wright at reidw@cortezjournal.com.
