Portland Iron Chef Competition 2014
It was an honor to attend Portland’s Original Iron Chef Competition on behalf of my employer, FamilyCare Health Plans. What a fantastic, first rate event. The food was delicious, the venue was perfect, the auction was lively, and the crowd was diverse – what’s better it was all for good cause. All proceeds support the two LifeWorks NW Children’s Relief Nursery locations in the Portland metro area.
Gabriel Gabreski – A Cena Ristorante
Warm farro salad with chantrelles, roasted beets, kale, and hazelnuts. This was out of this world delicious — the picture does it no JUSTICE
Mirna Attar- Ya Hala
Seared halloumi with carrots and sweet peper melange and pomengranate glace. We could only vote for one, but this easily would’ve been my second place vote!
Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!