The Gluten-Free Cooking Spree
is an event that joins together the medical and lifestyle aspects of
celiac disease. The event began as a partnership between the National
Foundation for Celiac Awareness, the Drexel University School of Public
Health and the Drexel University School of Hospitality Management in an
effort to educate people about the wonderful world of gluten-free
cooking.
NFCA
paired culinary arts students with prominent physicians from nine
hospitals in the Philadelphia area and taught them basic lessons about
celiac disease and how to prepare gluten-free meals. After the
training, the doctors partnered with students to compete in developing
gluten-free recipes and preparing the delicious results. George Perrier
of Le Bec-Fin and Christina Pirello, host of Christina Cooks, judged
the food entries on taste and presentation. The winning team received a
cooking lesson from George Perrier.
People who attended the
event were able to watch the teams prepare their recipes and enjoyed a
variety of gluten-free food and drinks from local vendors.
In 2007, NFCA will host seven cooking sprees in cities across the country. They will be in:
New York CityBostonWashington, D.C.PhiladelphiaAtlanta San FranciscoSt. Louis
For
Gluten-Free Cooking Sprees in 2007, NFCA will pair doctors with top
chefs in each city and have them compete to develop and cook the best
gluten-free meal. Culinary students will assist each team.
Profits
from the event will support the NFCA national awareness campaign. A
donation will also be made to the hospital that the winning team's
doctor is affiliated with and to the local support group will receive
funding that is designated for celiac awareness programming.
For more information about getting involved or sponsoring the
Gluten-Free Cooking Sprees, please contact Vanessa Maltin at
vanessa@celiaccentral.org or 215-692-2639.
