Unique Mahone Fund benefit dinner set for Wednesday, Nov. 9

A special, pop-up chef demonstration and gourmet dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 9, will benefit the community causes supported by the Kenosha-based Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Fund, organizers announced recently.

“Gateway Technical College Culinary Arts Presents an Evening with The Bartolotta Restaurants: A Benefit for the Mahone Fund” will be held in the Gateway’s Breakwater Dining Room in the Lake Building, 1001 S. Main St., Racine.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with a chef demonstration at 6 p.m. and dinner to follow. Admission is $125 per person, with all proceeds benefitting the Mahone Fund. This exclusive dinner is limited to the first 50 reservations. Tickets can be purchased at https://eveningwithachef.eventbrite.com.

The cooking demonstration will feature chefs from the award winning, Milwaukee-based Bartolotta Restaurants cooking alongside students from Gateway’s Culinary Arts Program and from the Kenosha Unified School District’s Tremper High School.

“This event is so exciting because it both raises money for educational scholarships through the Mahone Fund and also gives an opportunity for students to learn from high-level professionals,” said Ardis Mahone-Mosley, event co-chair. “The students at the culinary program at GTC worked with the chefs from The Bartolotta Restaurants throughout the process and gained experience and connections in an industry they are interested in joining.”

The three-course menu to be served in the Breakwater restaurant following the demonstration includes: cream of wild mushroom soup with shaved black truffles and roasted chanterelle mushrooms; beef Wellington with mushroom duxelles, potato puree and roasted garlic brussels sprouts; and vanilla bean crème brulée with berry garnish. Wine and other beverages will also be served.

Chef Aaron Bickham, Executive Corporate Chef for The Bartolotta Restaurants, said the menu was designed to follow the Gateway Culinary Arts curriculum, challenging the students to use knife, cooking, and baking skills. Chef Bickham will be working with the students along with The Bartolotta Restaurants Executive Chefs Matt Baier of Downtown Kitchen and Michael Genre of Harbor House.

After the dinner is served, the students and their families will have the opportunity to discuss what they learned and ask questions of the professional chefs.

“We at The Bartolotta Restaurants believe it is more important than ever to help nurture and develop the next generation of chefs and cooks,” Chef Bickham said. “Partnering with a program like the Mahone Career Exploration Organization allows our team to have a hands-on experience with students interested in the culinary arts. They can watch and learn from working professionals in the industry and we are there to answer any questions they may have
about working in restaurants, getting their foot in the door, what qualities and skills people are looking for when hiring, and what it takes to be successful in the restaurant industry.”

Teri Jacobson, event co-chair, added: “The Breakwater restaurant at Gateway’s Racine campus is an ideal location to host this unique event showcasing The Bartolotta Restaurants commitment to education and the community

“Our supporters will get a unique opportunity to watch a demonstration by some of the area’s best chefs, eat some amazing food in a great setting, and support two great educational programs – GTC and the Mahone Fund.”

Terry Simmons, Dean of Gateway’s School of Protective and Human Services, called the event “a valuable experience for a great cause.”

“This event is incredible opportunity for our culinary arts students to collaborate with industry professionals,” Simmons added. “We are so appreciative to have great partners like the Mahone Foundation and The Bartolotta Restaurants.”

About the event partners:

Founded in 1999, the Mahone Fund celebrates and perpetuates the legacy of the late Kenosha social justice leaders Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahone. The nonprofit fund’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for economically and academically deserving youth, while also supporting healthy lifestyle initiatives in communities of color. The fund is a component of the Kenosha Community Foundation. More details are available at
https://www.mahonefund.org.

The Bartolotta Restaurants is a nationally recognized restaurant and catering organization cofounded by four-time nominated and two-time James Beard Award- winning Chef Paul Bartolotta and his late brother, Joe Bartolotta. Since the opening of its flagship restaurant, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993, The Bartolotta Restaurants group has grown to become the premier culinary brand in the Greater Milwaukee region, offering first class service and cuisine
across a portfolio of 17 one-of-a-kind restaurants and catering facilities, including fine dining, upscale casual, upscale food hall, and quick- casual concepts. More information can be found at bartolottas.com.

Gateway Technical College began in 1911 as the United States’ first publicly funded technical college and now offers more than 70 programs of study preparing 21,000 students annually to enter new careers or advance their current ones. The Gateway district serves Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties. Learn more at https://www.gtc.edu/about-us.