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Press Release: Local Chefs Take Center Stage at Chopped

Local Chefs Take Center Kitchen for Open Table’s Chopped for Charity Gala

Evening at Sanctuary Maynard to feature chefs cooking challenge, music, food and silent auction

Concord and Maynard, MA (April 20, 2022) – Open Table, the Concord and Maynard charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, today announced that acclaimed local chefs Didem Hosgel, Jordan Mackey, and Lucmann Pierre will take center kitchen as competitors at this year’s Chopped for Charity gala. The evening will feature the three chefs as they compete in a fast-paced cooking challenge for an expert panel of judges, as well as delicious food, music and a silent action. The event will benefit Open Table’s mission, with a focus on the organization’s programs to provide nourishment for children’s program. 

Chopped for Charity will be held at 6:30 on Friday evening, June 24th at Sanctuary, a vintage music and event venue in Maynard, MA. The evening’s honorees will be The Gilson Family Foundation and The Osterman Foundation, two local organizations that have been staunch supporters of Open Table, as well as Liz and Phil Gross who have pledged to match fundraising efforts for the event. Tickets are $125 per person and are available starting May 1st at Opentable.org/chopped.

“After a three-year hiatus, the Open Table Chopped for Charity Gala is coming to Sanctuary in Maynard for a fun-filled evening,” said Norma Frye, Open Table BOD member and Chopped Co-Chair.  “This is a great opportunity for all of our supporters to come together, celebrate our accomplishments, and fund-raise for the year ahead.”

Chefs competing in the Chopped for Charity challenge:

Chef Didem Hosgel is chef-owner of Tasteful Sini, a Belmont-based personalized chef service dedicated to creating memorable food experiences in everything from day-to-day meals to special celebrations. A native of Turkey, Chef Hosgel draws inspiration from the home cooking of her mother, grandmother, and aunts. She worked for many years with acclaimed Chef Ana Sortun of Oleana, was chef to the Turkish Consulate of Boston and returned to work with Sortun as her Chef de Cuisine of Sofra Bakery and café before starting Tasteful Sini in 2020. Chef Hosgel has a Culinary degree from Cambridge Culinary.

Chef Lucmann Pierre, a native of Haiti, is a James Beard award recipient and cookbook author who has earned a reputation for delectable cuisine and unprecedented service. Most recently he has been working with Open Table, helping to prepare thousands of meals for our neighbors in need. Chef Pierre got his start with the Marriott Corporation in its IBM Executive Conference Center where he was trained by some of the Culinary Institute of America’s top chefs. After a brief stint in Retail IT, he launched Le Pierre Caterers, serving clients throughout the New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania region and beyond. Recognized for his high level of achievement, he was named President of the National Association for Catering Events (NACE) of New Jersey. Chef Pierre and has been featured on the TODAY Show on NBC and several other media outlets.

Chef Jordan Mackey is the chef-owner of Nan’s Rustic Kitchen and Market in Stow and Sobre Mesa Tequila Bar in Sudbury. He has led the kitchens of several notable restaurants including the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa in Miami, La Playa Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, and Meritage, also located in Naples, Fla. Mackey was named “Chef of the Month” in October 2003 by Entrée Magazine, and his dishes have been featured in Travel & Leisure and numerous television stations throughout Florida and Washington.

Experts seated at the Chopped for Charity judges’ table:

Louise Mawhinney is the owner of Duck Soup and Sky Bar Manufacturing Company, both located in Mill Village in Sudbury. She also runs the gift shop at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury. A native of Scotland, Louise has lived in Sudbury since 1985. She loves this area and feels very privileged to be able to participate in its community.

Jacqueline Cain is a freelance food writer and editor, contributing regularly to Edible Boston, The Food Lens, Boston Magazine, Boston.com, America’s Test Kitchen, Apartment Therapy and more. She has also been a taproom bartender, restaurant manager and a rural newspaper reporter. She lives in Boston, following spells in Burlington, VT and her hometown of Berlin, MA.

Joe Gatto is a private chef, culinary Instructor, author and host of the cutting-edge cooking show From Scratch. His private-chef client list has included a star Boston Red Sox player and the CEO and founder of iRobot among others.