The Franciscan Center, a nonprofit ministry hosted its 2nd annual PLATED culinary fundraising event, an evening of gourmet, cocktail, and competition, on Thursday, April 25th at the newly renovated venue.
Over 175 guests indulged in delightful drinks and food from Baltimore’s finest establishments and enjoyed culinary spectacles featuring chef demonstrations by CAnE Collective and Atlas Restaurant Group. Food samples were shared by Sodhexo, Parkhurst (Loyola University), Mason Dixie, and True Chesapeake Oyster Co., and Innovation Works’ food vendors including: Meat the Mushroom, Black Acres Roastery, Citywide Development Corp Sorbet, and JJ McDonnell.
The attendees experienced a lively cooking competition among four Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy graduates.
Competitors included Chef Jessica Clark, owner of Like Home Catering; Chef Chandra Miller, Executive Chef at Next Phaze Café in Baltimore City, Chef Karen Brooks, owner of Sweet Celebrations specializing in specialty cakes and treats, and Chef Dyshae Lynch, owner of The Bakeologist baking company.
Chef Dyshae Lynch was crowned the Dignity Plates Graduate Competition Winner with her perfectly prepared lamb chops, asparagus, and shitake mushroom entrée, prosecco rhubarb strawberry spirit, and cheesecake topped with a hand-crafted white chocolate and fresh berries. She received a $1000 cash prize thanks to sponsor M&T Bank and a commemorative plate award. The other contestants each received a $250 cash prize from M&T Bank.
“I’m so glad I was selected and had the opportunity to participate in this competition. I put a lot of hard work and time into my dishes,” said Dyshsae Lynch, winner of the Dignity Plates Graduate Competition. “Being in this program for 13 weeks has changed my life for the better. I honestly don’t know what my life would be like without being a part of this program and the Franciscan Center community. I’m so thankful.”
This epic culinary event took place in the courtyard and throughout the newly renovated first floor of the Franciscan Center. Attendees experienced the updated indoor dining room, client-choice pantry, training culinary academy kitchen, computer lab and education center, and clothing intake room.
As a Baltimore-native and culinary genius, she stated, “Baltimore is becoming a culinary destination that the world didn’t know about. And we have some of that talent right here through the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Three years ago, I came to the Franciscan Center to seek mentorship, and learned that with their unfeathering devotion to helping others, we can make a difference in providing equal access to healthy cuisine for those in need. We can all work together to share hope, grit, promise, and success. We all deserve the best.”
The executive team honored several remarkable individuals and companies who have championed the mission of the Franciscan Center. Award honorees included:
· Spirit of St. Francis Award, presented to an individual or couple who give back their time and treasure to the Franciscan Center – Frank and Carolyn Knott
· Spirit of St. Clare Award, shared with local organizations whose gifts make a substantial difference at the Center – M&T Bank, Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity
· Sister Irene Marshiano, O.S.F. Award, named after the founder of the Franciscan Center, this award is presented to an outstanding volunteer – Mary Carol “MC” Ceselsky-Grunder
PLATED Event Committee Chair and President of MedStar Good Samaritan and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and Senior Vice President of MedStar Health, TJ Senker shared, “On behalf of MedStar Health, we were honored to be a part of the PLATED 2 event benefiting the Franciscan Center. We’re pleased to partner with the team in support of the critical work that they do in our community. Access to healthy nutritious food is important for so many reasons, including the impact on one’s health.”
Senker continued, “Fortunately, the Franciscan Center is working to combat this problem by sharing more than 600 healthy meals daily and providing basic culinary instructions for students to gain entry level jobs because of the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy.”
The event was sponsored by:
· Executive Chef Sponsors: M&T Bank, Whiting-Turner, and Daly Excellence in Enterprise IT
· Chef De Cuisine Sponsors: Berman McAleer, Erickson Senior Living, MedStar Health, Our Lady of the Angels Province, and RCM&D
· Sous Chef Sponsors: Ernst & Young LLP, Gathering Point Giving Circle, McCormick & Company, Inc., SP+, The Kahlert Foundation, Booster, LLC, and CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
· Chef De Partie Sponsors: Calvert Hall, Carey Sales, Loyola Blakefield, Loyola University, The Paszkiewicz Family, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Merritt Properties, Roso & Pakula Food Brokers, TJ Senker and Family, Kelly Benefits, and Sysco Corporation
· In-Kind Sponsors: Atlas Restaurant Group, Cane Collective LLC, SP+, and Tito’s
About Franciscan Center The Franciscan Center is a nonprofit ministry. The mission of the Franciscan Center is to provide emergency assistance and supportive outreach to persons who are economically disadvantaged in an effort to assist them in realizing their self-worth and dignity as people of God. The nonprofit offers a continuum of care that includes food, clothing, emergency health services, counseling, and technology training to help clients become as self-sufficient as possible.
The Center’s Culinary Services offer a pantry program, and a hot lunch program, which distributes on average 600-700 meals daily at its W. 23rd Street location, partner organizations, and local homeless encampments. The Franciscan Center serves 99% of scratch food. The food cooked and served is fresh and healthy, with produce and proteins coming from its own farm at the Shrine of St. Anthony, First Fruits Farm, and other local farms.
Every year the Responsive Services and Outreach Team meets with more than 3,000 families and provides support to help individuals gain access to their state IDs, birth certificates, pharmacy needs, eyeglasses, dental services, pantry food, clothing, barbers and much more.
Additionally, the Center offers the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy, a 13-week program – zero-cost culinary workforce training program. To learn more about the Franciscan Center’s services, visit www.fcbmore.org.
The Franciscan Center is currently undergoing its first major renovation in 25 years and has launched a capital campaign to help fund the changes. The center now offers a warm indoor dining room, client choice pantry, training kitchen for students in the culinary academy, computer lab and education center, clothing intake room, and soon to come, a new Mace Street entrance.
