Meet the Chefs

The Montgomery County Free Clinic will celebrate the 10th annual Dining with the Chefs event on Aug. 10 at Wabash College.

Its signature food and fundraising event, Dining with the Chefs, brings three teams of talented local chefs together to prepare a fantastic feast for guests as they watch, learn and taste alongside.

Tickets are on sale now at mcfreeclinic.org/dining-with-the-chefs.

The trio of teams are led by head chefs Jason Anderson, Lali Hess and Rick Warner. During the next few weeks each chef team and their dishes will be highlighted.

Warner has been part of the event since its inception.

“I enjoy the camaraderie of the chefs,” he said. “But I am also committed to the cause of helping the Clinic provide health care for those who need it.”

This year, Warner and his sous chef Henry Taylor will be preparing the dessert course which will include apple spice cake muffins and cookies and cream ice cream.

“Throughout the years we have featured a variety of interesting international items,” Warner said. “Once in a while I like to come ‘home again’ — in this case with recipes from my youth in Vermont.”

The professional chef turned history professor at Wabash College appreciates the history of communities gathering together for a good meal.

“The human race has gathered around tables for its entire existence, which promotes close ties and kindness that frankly the world could do with more of these days,” he continued.

Warner and his wife came to Crawfordsville for a one-year appointment at Wabash College but ended up staying and raising their family here.

“I quickly discovered that this is the place for me and was blessed with a tenure track offer a couple years later,” he said. “I just finished my 25th year at Wabash.”

Taylor is a senior at Wabash College and has worked as Warner’s sous chef for many events, including last year’s Dining with the Chefs.

This year the event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour sponsored by McGowan Insurance Group and Auto-Owners Insurance. A sit-down family-style fine dining experience will follow.

Reserve seats now for $85 per person or $640 for a table of eight. Don’t wait — the event sells out early.

Your support will help ensure that Montgomery County residents do not go without basic needs like food, medicine, and care from licensed medical and dental staff.