Sold-out crowd enjoys Celebrity Cuisine. Here are the five best foods I tried.

Kelsey Davis, The Repository
·2 min read
The 31st annual Tri-County Restaurant Association Celebrity Cuisine, presented by Atlantic Food Distributors and benefiting the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, attracted a sold-out crowd of about 1,100 people Tuesday to the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
The 31st annual Tri-County Restaurant Association Celebrity Cuisine, presented by Atlantic Food Distributors and benefiting the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, attracted a sold-out crowd of about 1,100 people Tuesday to the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

CANTON – The 31st annual Tri-County Restaurant Association Celebrity Cuisine, presented by Atlantic Food Distributors and benefiting the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, attracted a sold-out crowd of about 1,100 people Tuesday to the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

“Celebrity Cuisine has been a wonderful opportunity for people to come together in support of local hunger relief,” said Dan Flowers, Foodbank president and CEO. “This event is unique in that it engages so many people across the region — businesses, restaurants and purveyors, volunteers, all for a common cause: to feed our neighbors facing hunger.”

The event, for which tickets cost $50, offered unlimited access to appetizers, entree samples, beer, wine and desserts from more than 40 restaurants and purveyors, plus entertainment by Hey Monea and The Kenny & JT Show of WHBC-AM (1480). Local celebrities were on duty to serve food. Raffles and silent auctions also were available to help raise funds.

The Foodbank matched what was donated during the event, “meaning that instead of $1 providing four meals, it provides eight meals,” said Raven Gayheart, public relations and communications manager at Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

The star of the event was the food; cuisine is in the name, after all. From chips and dip to raw kibbee to ice cream and popcorn, there was a large variety of food.

Here are the five best things I ate at Celebrity Cuisine.

Kozmo's Grille offered its chef's special fish tacos at Celebrity Cuisine.
Kozmo's Grille offered its chef's special fish tacos at Celebrity Cuisine.

1. Chef's special fish tacos from Kozmo’s Grille

With juicy fish, slaw and a creamy dressing wrapped inside a warm taco, these were seriously delicious.

Papa Gyros baklava and gyro pita were a standout at Celebrity Cuisine.
Papa Gyros baklava and gyro pita were a standout at Celebrity Cuisine.

2. Gyro pita and baklava from Papa Gyros Greek Grill

Papa Gyros is always a favorite of mine. This time was no different. The flame broiled gyro meat was wrapped with tomatoes, onion and tzatziki sauce inside a handmade pita. And the baklava was sweet and flaky.

Kennedy's Bar-B-Que offered pulled pork and macaroni and cheese.
Kennedy's Bar-B-Que offered pulled pork and macaroni and cheese.

3. Barbecue pulled pork from Kennedy’s Bar-B-Que

This pulled pork was juicy, tender and so flavorful. A good pulled pork doesn’t need much barbecue sauce, and this didn’t.

The Desert Inn offered hummus and pita, tabouli (parsley salad), raw kibbee and Syrian rice.
The Desert Inn offered hummus and pita, tabouli (parsley salad), raw kibbee and Syrian rice.

4. Sample plate from The Desert Inn

The Desert Inn did not mess around with its portions, offering a full plate of hummus and pita, tabouli (parsley salad), raw kibbee and Syrian rice. The hummus, tabouli and Syrian rice were my favorites. They offered lots of flavor and paired well together.

Walther's Twin Tavern offered catfish, one of the restaurant's specialties, along with pasta.
Walther's Twin Tavern offered catfish, one of the restaurant's specialties, along with pasta.

5. Catfish from Walther’s Twin Tavern

Known for its catfish, it’s no wonder Walther’s was sampling this for guests, along with pasta. The catfish was perfectly juicy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Among the flavors of popcorn offered by Nom Nom Popcorn Co. at Celebrity Cuisine was the white chocolate raspberry.
Among the flavors of popcorn offered by Nom Nom Popcorn Co. at Celebrity Cuisine was the white chocolate raspberry.

Runners-up: Baked spaghetti with red sauce from Grinder’s Above & Beyond, spicy feta cheese dip with tortilla chips and fresh lemonade from Atlantic Food Distributors and white chocolate raspberry popcorn from Nom Nom Popcorn Co.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: The five best foods I tried at sold-out Celebrity Cuisine fundraiser