David and Megan Piccione with Anna and Reid Wenger

“Chef’s Fantasy,” one of northeast Ohio’s finest food, wine and auction events, marked 25 years of progress in researching a cure for cystic fibrosis.
More than 165 guests attended the seven-course dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland. Each course was prepared by a different chef and paired with wine. Chef Ky-wai Wong and his students from the Tri-C Hospitality Management Center, along with Chef Todd Whitman of Serenite Restaurant in Medina, prepared the hors d’oeuvres. The six dinner courses were the creations of Chef Melissa Khoury of Saucisson, Chef Adam Bostwick of Adam Bostwick Kitchen, Chef Derek Ivancic with Jack Entertainment, Chef Brad Gambrell with Levy Restaurants, Huntington Convention Center, Chef Vishwatej Nath with Progressive

Tim Chai, Dr. Olivia Noall, Dr. Laura Xiang and Connor Mackovjak

Field, and Chef Anthony Scolaro from One Eleven Bistro. Chef Richard Arnoldi from the Ritz-Carlton prepared a trio of desserts. Live and silent auctions included one-of-a-kind travel and culinary experiences, art and jewelry.
Michael Boyle, M.D., president of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation noted, “The CF community is at the heart of all we do and continues to help us achieve exciting progress. There are now more than a dozen approved treatments for CF and people are living longer than ever before, reaching important life milestones such as going to college, getting married and having families of their own. Our vision is a cure for every person with cystic fibrosis. Let’s make CF stand for Cure Found.” The “Chef’s Fantasy” event helped to raise more than $150,000 to support cure research. STORY BY CYNTHIA SCHUSTER

Robert, Robin and Katie Znidarsic and Justin Bingaman

EAKIN/PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC EAKIN