Signature Chef's Auction for March of Dimes

Vapor Night Club at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway will host the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction event.  Top chefs from the region will offer guests an opportunity to enjoy a great night out while raising funds, making friends and growing visibility for the critical work of the March of
Dimes to help all babies be born healthy.  In addition to sampling signature dishes, guests will be able to bid on many
unique auction items graciously donated by local businesses and participating restaurants.  
 
“Clearly, this is the premier culinary event of the fall in Upstate New York.  Our area's culinary geniuses will
create their signature dish in a sample size and beautifully present them to our guests, and culminate in an exciting live
Iron Chef competition on stage.  What better way to enjoy a wonderful meal than in the company of others who are
helping babies get a healthy start in life,” said Joanne DiMarco, the event’s 2009 volunteer chair.   
 
This year, March of Dimes is excited to welcome back their Iron Chef competition, which will have 6 chefs
competing on the Vapor Night Club stage.  The Iron Chef competition will be judged by celebrity chefs Toby and Pam
Strianese (educators & food authors), Noah Sheetz (Chef at the Governor’s Mansion) and Michael Harris (Yaddo
Executive Chef).  This year’s Iron Chef competitors are:  Jim Kavanaugh, Bellini’s Italian Eatery; Judy and Teddy
Somboon, Blue Spice Thai Restaurant; Kevin Robert, Crowne Plaza Downtown; Brian Sterner, Gideon Putnam Resort;
Heidi Mabb, Hilton Garden Inn Troy; and Gardner Crandall, Scrimshaw at the Desmond.  Each chef will have 30
minutes to prepare their dishes from a basket of mystery ingredients, and the competition will have play-by-play
commentary by Host Chef Brent Black of Fortune’s and radio personality and comedian Steve Van Zandt.  Jackie
Donovan and Lydia Kulbida are also hosting the event.  Other participating restaurants include Fortune’s Restaurant,
Irish Mist Restaurant, Sunset Café, CoccaDots, Saratoga Cheesecake Company, Saratoga Farmer’s Market, Cabot
Cheese and Melville’s Mug.
 
Auction packages include 4 tickets to the 11/29 NY Jets football game with transportation provided by Brown
Coach; wine dinner packages from some of the top restaurants in the region, including each of the Iron Chef
competitors; golf, ski and hotel packages from the region’s premier establishments; “Name a Race” at the harness track;
VIP box seats at the 2010 flat track and much more!
 
Sponsors include Vapor Night Club, Greg Pinto Ophthalmology, CDPHP, Glens Falls Obstetrics &
Gynecology, Margie and Michael Rotchford, NYSUT, Saratoga Hospital Medical Staff, Zone 5, CapitalNews9 and
others. Funds raised by Signature Chefs Auction support lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at giving
every baby a healthy start.  The March of Dimes has over $900,000 in active mission investments in the Northeastern
New York Division in 2009.  In addition, the March of Dimes awarded $205,000 in targeted community grants that have
direct impact on the lives of local families, including NICU Family Support® at Albany Medical Center.   
 
The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million
babies each year, with the number growing every day.  Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities.
The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and
providing comfort and information to families who are affected.
 
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for
Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and
information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.