Fred and Mary Garcia from Tipsy Bear Bistro serve Pete & Sue Kirchman during last year's Bay Area Women's Center Wild Game Dinner and Wine Tasting.

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Area chefs raise funds for Bay Area Women's Center

January 26, 2016
By: Pati LaLonde

Six are chefs are offering up an evening of International Flavors to Savor during the fourth annual Bay Area Women's Center Wild Game Dinner and Wine Tasting.

The evening - presented by Dow Chemical Employee's Credit Union - of mildly wild foods paired with wine or craft beer takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Scottish Rite Center, 614 Center Ave.

Tickets are $70 and available by calling 989-686-2251.

Chefs for the evening are Fred Garcia from Tipsy Bear Bistro, Susan Fassbender of Asian Noodle, James Ung of Blossoms Asian Bistro, Mike Malusi of American Kitchen, Jim Martini of Martini's Custom Catering and Carrie Fisher of the Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe, preparing everything from venison, to seafood to wild boar to pizza, finishing off with cupcakes.

"It's really a foodie event," said Lynn Weaver, director of development for the center. "The food is amazing. It's gourmet wild game. But some of our committee members call it the not so wild, wild game dinner."

Those attending also get the chance to bid on some pretty amazing auction items as well, including a pink kayak, a guided pheasant hunt, Traverse City hotel stay, artwork, restaurant gift cards and days passes for Zehnder's Splash Village, during live and silent auctions.

Last year's sell-out event raised $38,000, and Weaver is expecting this year's event to surpass that.

Money raised goes into the center's general fund domestic violence and sexual assault programs.

"Everyone who attends the event has a really wonderful time," said Weaver. "They are so happy to have a great time while supporting the worthy mission of eliminating domestic violence and sexual assault. It's just the frosting on the cake."