Whole Notes benefit to feature local food, wines, chefs

Foodies, wine enthusiasts and locavores, mark your calendars: the 4th Annual Whole Notes benefit dinner is being held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 17 at Koetsiers Greenhouses.

Whole Notes will benefit The North American Choral Company, an organization where children ages 5-18 participate in both during and after school choir programs. 

Jayne Schuitema, director of the NACC, explained that "proceeds from the event will go directly into the programming of the NACC - which directly impacts the students, [providing] scholarships for the after school program and the ability to serve more schools during the academic day."

Whole Notes will feature a five course meal of local foods paired with wines from local vintners. Each course will be prepared by a local chef. Schuitema said that the chefs for the event, "were chosen by their dedication to the use of local ingredients and inventive menus." 

The following chefs are participating:

• Appetizer-Eric DeWaard, Derby Station
• Soup- Clark Fraine, Ottawa Tavern
• Salad- Chris Perkey, Kent Country Club
• Entrée - Justin Dalenberg, Six One Six at the JW Marriott
• Dessert - Jeff Kerr, Blue Water Grill- Gilmore Collection.

Whole Notes was originally inspired by Outstanding in the Field, a restaurant that travels by bus, serving dinners of locally harvested foods across the United States, Canada and Europe.

Music during the Whole Notes dinner will be provided by Hey Marco!, a band comprised of NACC performers, led by their music director, Mark Jackson.