Local cuisine spotlighted at Premier Chefs Dinner

Eight chefs work in tandem to benefit Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

SEATTLE — May 8, 2008 — Local ingredients, exotic spice blends and a chef's first effort at homemade prosciutto highlight the six-course menu at the annual Premier Chefs Dinner, to be held 5 p.m. Sunday, May 18 at the Grand Hyatt Seattle to benefit Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Chefs Mike Davis (26 Brix, in Walla Walla), Robin Leventhal (Crave), Russell Lowell (Russell's), Tamara Murphy (Brasa), Felix Penn (Pair), Brian Scheehser (Trellis), Jason Wilson (Crush) and certified executive pastry chef Kim Smith are donating their time and talents to prepare the elaborate culinary adventure.

Guests will be among the first to sample Chef Murphy's prosciutto, which she raised, prepared and cured for a year. The ham will be served as a starter dish with minted Yakima asparagus, foraged greens, fava beans and aged pecorino from Estrella Creamery of Montesano.

A main-course Northwest lamb rack by Chef Leventhal features chermoulah, a North African blend of fresh coriander, lemon juice, olive oil and spices. Chef Wilson's first-course spot prawns are stuffed with Dungeness crab and accompanied by lemon butter with black vadouvan, a smoky, fermented Indian spice mixture.

Each course will be paired with an exceptional wine provided by Washington state wineries including Camaraderie Cellars, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Desert Wind, DiStefano Winery, Sheridan Vineyards, Three Rivers Winery, Va Piano Vineyards and Wineglass Cellars .The live auction features one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, most notably Chef Lowell's signature Elk Camp feast of wild game and fine wines. At the Elk Camp dinner, guests are served a fully appointed eight-course meal in a warm tent surrounded by a snowy, old-growth forest.

The Premier Chefs Dinner is presented annually by the Premier Chefs Dinner Advisory Board and the Hutchinson Center's Magnolia Guild. All proceeds benefit the Center's general fund, which sustains vital programs such as faculty recruitment, pilot-research projects, shared-research facilities and patient-family support. More information is available at www.fhcrc.org/chefs/public.

Media Contact
Christi Ball Loso
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
(206) 667-5215
closo@fhcrc.org

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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. For more information, please visit www.fhcrc.org.