Direct from the press release...

Vancouver’s culinary community is responding in full force to the disaster in Haiti: ‘Strength through Unity: A Gala Affair for Haiti Relief’, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at the Terminal City Club in Vancouver. For the first time ever, a group of iconic local chefs will be uniting efforts to pledge support and raisemoney for the crisis in Haiti.

The ‘Strength Through Unity’ gala evening will be uniting efforts to pledge support and raise money for the crisis in Haiti. The event will showcase an all-star cast of repeat winners from the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be directed towards disaster relief in Haiti.

This unity is reflected in the cast itself, a Jules Verne-worthy gastronomic escapade withtop Vancouver chefs Jeff Van Geest (Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel), David Hawksworth (Hawksworth), Andrey Durbach (Pied-à-Terre, La Buca), Angus An (Maenam), Jeremie Bastien (Boneta Restaurant), and Eleanor Chow (Chambar).

Guests will dine to the music of local singing talent Michelle Richard and be delighted by an intimate performance by legendary bluesman Jim Byrnes. “We are so grateful that the Terminal City Club has generously opened their doors for this event,” said Jeff Van Geest, local chef and chair of the event. “The Terminal City Club is a perfect venue for showcasing the incredible world-renowned talent of the generous volunteer chefs. It’s not often that you’ll find these people in one room, let alone cooking together. I’m so glad that the “Strength through Unity” gala has been able to rally the local restaurant community for such a necessary cause.”

Guests will dine on dishes reflecting the global community as it collaborates in response to Haiti’s disaster. Van Geest of Diva will use British Columbia as inspiration. Course four (of seven) will feature local Polderside duck, French lentils, and silky celeriac purée with mulled wine jus, paired with the acclaimed 2007 Fairview Cellars MadCap Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon.

The gala evening will include a Chef’s Services Auction (where chefs will donate their time and talent to provide private culinary instruction or preparation) and a Silent Auction featuring unique and exciting prize packages, including an ultimate Whistler experience featuring a $400 gift certificate for the Coast Hotel.

Only 150 tickets will be available at a cost of $150.00 per plate until Monday, February 1. Tickets can be purchased online at www.crwrc.com/strengththroughunity. For further information, to book your tickets, or for sponsorship inquiries, please call “Strength through Unity” spokesperson Melissa Janke at 604-889-3456 or email strengththroughunity.crwrc@gmail.com.

For information on the disaster relief efforts in Haiti, please visit http://www.crcna.org/pages/crwrc_ir_haiti.cfm.