Arizona's top chefs join with CCAP Arizona students to produce dinner and an event

Amy Binkley. Ryan Clark. Charlene Badman. Rich Hinojosa.  and more...

Chef Todd Allison of T. Cook's at the Royal Palms.  Chef Eugenia Theodosoupolos of Essence Bakery. Chef Marcos Seville at the Montelucia.

These top Phoenix chefs are among around two dozen professional chefs working directly with senior and junior culinary students from high schools across the state this fall to present the CCAP (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) Harvest Moon dinner.

Set for Oct. 27 at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Goodyear, the dinner provides an opportunity for chefs and students to showcase both savory and sweet "substantial" cocktail bites.  They'll be assisted by mixologists from Arizona Cocktail Week, who will provide crafted beverages to complement each dish.

"We believe in CCAP," says CTCA's chef Frank Caputo.  "We were a sponsor of this event last fall, and we felt we could offer a great site for the dinner."

CTCA's campus features an extensive terrace located almost next to a newly planted citrus grove that's  part of their 60-acre organic Hope Springs farm supervised by McClendon Farms, well known in this region for their commitment to organic farming.

Chef Caputo says, "We (CTCA) want to play a part in our community to help create a healthy community.  Food doesn't cure cancer, but it's part of a wellness path.

"Moreover, part of our mission is to be a strong component within our community."

Offering students an opportunity to gain understanding of the whole "farm to table" concept while introducing CTCA and Hope Springs farm to professional chefs and those attending the Harvest Moon Dinner falls perfectly within that intent.

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Here's a list, in no particular order, of chefs and the teachers/classes with which they're working to present CCAP Arizona's Harvest Moon Dinner on October 27:

Ø  Todd Allison of T. Cook's at the Royal Palms will work with Chapparal High students and teacher Ashley Holian.

Ø  Charlene Badman, FnB, is working with teacher Lucy Lamont and her class at Thunderbird High

Ø  Amy Binkley of Binkley's restaurants will work with Glendale High and teacher Shawn Morris

Ø  Jessica Rose Boutwell from Ruze Cake House is working with Mesa High and Priscilla Yazzie's  students

Ø  Ryan Clark of Agustin Kitchen in Tucson is working with Brian Clark's class at Marana High, Marana

Ø  Tracy Dempsey, Tracy Dempsey Originals, is working with Tempe High School and Lorna Barker's culinary students

Ø  Robert DeSantis, Elite Associates, will assist Esther Flannigan and her students at Mountain Institute JTED in Prescott

Ø  Brian Dragos, of Nestle, is assisting Greg Mahon and his students at Maricopa High School

Ø  Matt Fenton from Tarbell's will work with a cadre of CCAP alumni in Phoenix

Ø  Rita French, at the helm of Aramark's Engrained café at Arizona State University, is working with Angela Stutz and students at Perry High School, Phoenix

Ø  Rich Hinojosa, with the Wigwam, is working with Chris Contreras and students at Millenium High in Phoenix

Ø  JonPaul Hutchins, along with other Le Cordon Bleu alumni, will work with Joel Brookstein and current students at Le Cordon Bleu

Ø  Sean Kavanaugh, Rojo Hospitality (University of Phoenix Stadium), is working with Deb Snyder and her students at Independence High School in Phoenix

Ø  Dave Pastor with Olive Garden is working with Patti Pastor and the culinary students at Flagstaff High School

Ø  Butch Raphael from AZ Pops is leading teacher Erin Sullivan's team from Central High, Phoenix

Ø  Marcos Seville of Montelucia Resort will work with Dean Wilberscheid at MetroTech, Phoenix

Ø  Tim Stutz from Dawn Foods is working with Stephanie Adams and her students at Casa Grande High

Ø  Eugenie Theodosupolos of Essence Bakery will work with Kandy Kordova's culinary students at Carl Hayden High, Phoenix

Ø  Rebecca Tillman of the Pointe Hilton at Squaw Peak is working with Patty Nadzieja and culinary students at Paradise Valley High

Ø  Brett Vibber from Cartwright's Sonoran Ranchhouse will lead Gary Murphy's culinary team students at Washington High

Ø  Alan Zeman, with Rational USA, is working with Sean Frederick of Mountain View High near Tucson