PORTSMOUTH — On Tuesday, March 3, the Counseling Center, Inc. will hold its seventh Annual Celebrity Chef Dinner and Auction at the SOMC Friends Center, 1202-18th St., Portsmouth.  Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event will feature a Taste of New Orleans buffet feast inspired by flavors of the French Quarter, and appetizers by local celebrity chefs, a live New Orleans style jazz band, a Mardi Gras performance by Cirque d’Art, and a silent auction and raffles.

This event highlights the taste of Southern favorites and Creole-inspired main dishes such as smoked carved turkey, chicken jambalaya and dirty rice, oven-fried catfish fingers, red skin potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, cornbread muffins and beignets, complimented by desserts from Celebrity Chefs Sarah Myers of High Five Cakes and Julie Blackburn and Alyssa Logan from 83 Sweets.

That week celebrity Chef Sarah Myers, owner of High Five Cakes in Chillicothe, will compete in a Food Network TV competition show titled “Duff til Dawn” created by celebrity cake artist Duff Goldman. Sarah travels all over the country competing in cake competitions and her televised competition episode will air the Friday after her appearance at the Celebrity Chef Dinner. Sarah is making a red velvet, butter pecan, and white wedding cake in a lifesize replica of a Bayou alligator.  Another local celebrity chef duo, Julie and Alyssa from 83 Sweets, were also competition winners on “Cupcake Wars,” a Food Network show that features a timed, bake-off style competition where judges determined 83 Sweets confections the undisputed champs. The dinner will feature delicious creations from all three of these talented, professional dessert chefs.

All of the Celebrity Chefs contribute their time and talents to making a difference in the community.

This year’s Celebrity Chefs include Dr. Wayne and Saundra Wheeler – KDMC Urgent Care & Compass Community Health; Rita Rice Morris – Shawnee State University; Jeff Mundhenk and Malissa Sarver – KDMC; Robin Throckmorton – Portsmouth High School; Karen Davis – Karen’s Kakao Chocolate Confections and Bob Morton -Portsmouth Murals, Inc. president; Libby Brisker, retired senior volunteer program coordinator and Chad Sayer, Glockner’s; Bryan Davis, Scioto County commissioner and wife Lori Davis, SOMC Cancer Center; Jenny Lavender, manager SOMC Volunteer Services/Guild Coordinator; Yvonne Hale, ‑ Iron Body Fitness; Will Robinson, Catering for a Cause and media sportscaster; Sarah Myers – High Five Cakes; Julie Blackburn & Alyssa Logan – 83 Sweets.

All proceeds from the dinner and auction will generate funding to support The Counseling Center, Inc.’s ongoing youth Prevention and Outreach programs for area schools, and the Summer Outreach Club. This is a local summer program that provides children, ages 5 – 12, with quality recreational, motivational and educational opportunities and last year’s attendance averaged over 100 children per day. The funds raised during this one-night event will also help to underwrite our Scioto County school-based prevention services, which provide one-on-one mentoring to at-risk youth from elementary school through high school.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information or to reserve tickets, please call (740) 354-3829, ext. 234. Tickets can be purchased online at www.CelebrityChef2015.eventbrite.com.