By Dave Wagner, American Red Cross Volunteer
Families forced to evacuate from the fast-moving Eaton Fire are staying with the Red Cross at the Pasadena Convention Center. In addition to comfort and shelter, they receive three meals each day, prepared and served by community partners with catering and restaurant experience.
The Chef Masters charity is an association of Orange County, CA chefs who use their culinary expertise to raise money for organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation and Table 4 Ten. The group volunteered to help out at the Pasadena shelter, and cooked 1500 gourmet meals over two days. They even supplied fresh bread each day, baked early each morning.
Chef Pascal Olhats is a senior member of Chef Masters. He is a French-born and trained Executive Chef, and restaurateur. He has won many awards, owning and collaborating with several restaurants in Newport Beach over the past 32 years.
Chef Jason Yamaguchi owns Konpa, located in the heart of Corona Del Mar, Ca. At Konpa, the menu highlights Nikkei cuisine. Inspired by his Japanese heritage and his travels to Peru, Nikkei presents the harmony of Japanese cooking techniques fused with the rich ingredients of Peruvian cuisine.
Chef Robert Duvall is the culinary talent behind Duvall's Dishes Catering. Duvall’s culinary DNA is a fusion of cultures and traditions. With a French father, he carries a legacy of classic culinary techniques, beautifully intertwined with his Korean heritage.
Along with Chef Anthony Mendez, the team prepared an array of dishes, including sausage and peppers in marinara sauce, veggie stir-fry, BBQ chicken with sesame rice, and even creamy mac & cheese with chicken nuggets for the kids. They topped it all off with fresh baked blueberry Danish for dessert.
You can find shelter locations on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
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