A chef from Bentley’s Bar and Grill pays careful attention to his crab cakes at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
An estimated 1,000 people showed up for plentiful food and wine on Sunday, April 16, at Chefs’ Night Out, hosted by Marion Polk Food Share.
The Salem Conference Center was filled with people eating, socializing, drinking, and generally having a great time. Even more important, everyone there was supporting an important cause – feeding hungry neighbors.
“We couldn’t be happier about how well things went considering it’s been nearly four years since we held it in-person like this,” according to an email from Sam Tenney, communications manager for Marion Polk Food Share. “The event raised enough to provide more than 265,000 meals for our neighbors in need.”
The 52 food booths ranged from gluten-free donuts to pulled pork sandwiches to fresh crab cakes. Judging by the piles of dirty plates and cutlery, most attendees were going back for seconds and taking advantage of the many food booths to sample more than one thing.
The booths were on both floors of the conference center, and attendees had a full range of tasting for a $75 fee. Most of the wineries from around Salem were represented, with a distillery and a cidery also present, and a few breweries.
The participating purveyors donated their food and beverages to the event.
A beautifully prepared appetizer awaits attendees at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Breaking bread was not a problem at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Full plates and having fun were definitely on the menu at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A discriminating palate was welcome at one of the many wine tasting booths at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Lots of smiles and good times with friends were evident at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Empty dishes were heaped high from happy eaters at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Servers were happy to give out seconds at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Servers were happy to give out seconds at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Xicha Brewing Company booth crew was happy to pour a teste of their tamarind cider at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Wine choices were plentiful at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)No one was going home hungry at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)No one was going home hungry at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A father and son enjoyed tasting distilled spirits from Divine Distillers at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Musicians provided good vibes for people to eat and socialize Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The chicken teriyaki noodles were especially popular at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Luscious champagne strawberry cupcakes were hot items Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A happy smile and a plate full of food was the plan for this attendee at Chefs’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Marion Polk Food Share on Sunday, April 16, at the Salem Conference Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
