Cook up some fun Oct. 10 at CDAIDE's Chef Challenge

Regional chefs will present a plethora of plentiful platters and plates as they participate in cooking competitions from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 during CDAIDE's fourth annual Chef Challenge.

CDAIDE, a nonprofit that supports local hospitality workers, will bring the Chef Challenge back to the Hagadone Event Center for the fourth consecutive year. The evening will feature six regional chefs as they compete in a series of kitchen challenges and a judged cooking competition. Attendees will join in the fun by tasting appetizers prepared by the chefs and voting for their favorites, selecting the mystery ingredient to be included in the cooking competition and enjoying other food and drinks.

Last year’s sold-out event welcomed 200 attendees and raised more than $60,000 to support North Idaho's service industry workers.

“We really hope this year’s event will be a success," CDAIDE Executive Director Jason Nye, said in a Sept. 11 news release.

In the Coeur d'Alene area, restaurant and hospitality workers are especially vulnerable, often lacking supportive relationships and access to resources that can see them through a crisis or prevent the slide into homelessness. CDAIDE serves Coeur d’Alene-area hospitality workers by meeting their immediate needs, connecting them with resources for long-term self-sufficiency and providing them with emotional and moral support.

"There was a lot of need in our community over the past year and the continued inflation and increased cost of living in Coeur d'Alene doesn’t seem to be letting up," Nye said. "It’s been heartwarming to see our community come together recently in support of the employees of the Wolf Lodge. Hopefully, that same kindness and awareness will continue and help support other members of the hospitality industry who are struggling in less public ways.”

Proceeds from the 2024 Chef Challenge event will be used by CDAIDE to assist hospitality workers in the Coeur d’Alene area who encounter financial crises, ranging from large-scale events such as the fire at Wolf Lodge Steakhouse or personal struggles, like car repairs or dental work.

Tickets for the Chef Challenge are available for $125 each at auctria.events/CDAIDEChefChallenge or by visiting CDAIDE’s website, cdaide.org.

    CDAIDE's Chef Challenge, an event celebrating culinary creativity and benefiting service industry workers, will be Oct. 10 at the Hagadone Event Center.