An upcoming fundraising luncheon, hosted by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, has moved to a new location to allow for more diners.
And organizers say tickets are going fast.
Lagasse will still host the lunch–to raise money for the non-profit foundation behind the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW)–on Friday, Jan. 29. But instead of Pembroke’s, the event will now be held at the Country Club of Landfall.
The move was made in an effort to meet overwhelming demand, according to a release. GLOW has added an additional 100 seats, for 300 total, and made tables of 10 available.
The legendary chef’s visit was made possible by Judy Girard, a Wrightsville Beach resident who presided over the Food Network from 1998-2004 and later headed up HGTV. Girard has, since 2013, led the effort to bring GLOW, the state’s first all-girl charter school, to Wilmington.
GLOW is modeled after the successful schools in the national Young Women’s Leadership Network, which is dedicated to a rigorous, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) approach to education for at-risk female middle and high school students. The goal, according to a release from the school’s foundation, is to create future leaders and break the “destructive cycle of poverty.”
Lagasse – who first gained fame as executive chef of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans before opening his own restaurant – is known for his emphasis on creole and Cajun dishes and his signature seasoning, Emeril’s Essence. While his corporate office and flagship restaurant remain in New Orleans, he is executive chef and proprietor of 12 other restaurants across the country.
Tickets to the luncheon, which will feature a menu of Lagasse’s recipes, are $200 each. Lagasse will be on hand during the event to supervise the kitchen and circulate and socialize throughout the venue.
The night before, he’ll serve an intimate private dinner at an area home for up to 30 guests. Tickets to that event are $10,000 per couple.
Click here to purchase tickets. For more information, call GLOW, (910) 338-5258, or email foundation president Todd Godbey, tgodbey@glowacademy.net.
