Fall Festival of Hope

Chef Ben Pratt poses with Ingredients Staff (and sisters), Stephanie and Jenny Winiecki at their display at the sixth annual Fall Festival of Hope Restaurant Extravaganza on Tuesday, September 19.

About 500 guests attended this fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a special research and treatment facility that specializes in "pediatric catastrophic diseases," such as cancer. All patients are accepted for treatment without regard to the family's ability to pay. That's why their fundraisers are so important.

Presented by Target Corporation and sponsored by Minnesota Monthly, the swanky shindig was held at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis. Special musical guest, Anna Nalick, serenaded the attendees while they sampled food provided by 19 Twin Cities restaurants, and participated in live and silent auctions.

Always looking for fun things to serve, Chef Ben enticed visitors to the Ingredients table with samples of "Cold Pizza." Of course, this favorite leftover was unlike anything you would find in the back of your refrigerator. This "Cold Pizza" was constructed of Puff Pastry, Goat Cheese Fondue, Twin Pine Farms Watercress, Kost Family Farm Tomatoes and a Balsamic Reduction. Not suprisingly, this fine finger food was gobbled up, and there were no leftovers to bring home to the 'fridge!