Sundance Film Festival always brings a flurry of see-and-be-seen celebrity events to Park City, Utah, many of which are for good causes. One such event is the annual ChefDance culinary experience, which is a sensational, intimate dining series that unites the finest chefs with film actors and other entertainment leaders. This year’s ChefDance featured four nights of decadent dinners and benefited Operation Smile, a global charity.
At this high profile event, celebrities learned about how Operation Smile has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other dental and facial conditions. Stars had a wonderful time hearing about how Operation Smile is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide.
Each night of the ChefDance series featured incredible culinary fare from some of the best chefs in America. On Friday, Day #1, attendees got to eat delectable creations from Chef Casey Lane (Viale Di Romani, West Hollywood). This outstanding meal was an Eco-Friends Dinner with The Okavango Wilderness Project, an initiative working to protect the Okavango River Basin and wetlands in South Africa.
Those who attended the “Phenomenal Women Dinner in Entertainment, Technology, and Philanthropy” ChefDance on Saturday got to enjoy gourmet eats from Chef Jessica Koslow (Sqirl, Los Angeles). Star guests like Lala Kent, Scheana Shay, Adelaide Clemens, and Awkwafina were also treated to an exciting performance by Macy Gray! Avril Lavigne also went onstage to perform with her. This superb event was created in collaboration with the Sysco food distribution corporation & Shiseido skincare.
Sunday’s Future Generations Now Charity Dinner with Skyler Griswold was crafted by Chef Paul Qui, (James Beard Winner, Winner of Top Chef Season 9 Houston). On Monday, ChefDance Attendees enjoyed a “Celebration of Film, Food and Music” dinner by Chef Shaun O’Neale (Winner of Master Chef Season 7). On the final night, ChefDance Social presented a Celebration of Hip Hop History with a special performance by Wu-Tang Clan!
Other fantastic sponsors also participated in the series, including the Postmates delivery service, Proud Source Water (which is naturally alkaline 8.1), Beam Suntory, Cisco, Antica Winery in Napa Valley, NUGL cannabis technology, and Gameloft (a video game publisher). In all, ChefDance was a wonderful experience that gave back in a big way. All of the attending sponsors also got great exposure with top stars at Sundance 2019.
Contact: shannahch@gmail.com
