Friday, April 21 was the second year of the “Cutthroat Cookoff” benefiting Special Olympics of Kansas (SOKS). Last year’s event was the same theme (more about 2016’s event).

This year High Touch Technologies teamed up with Fidelity Bank to host this fundraising event for this summer’s Charles E. Watson Golf and Softball Tournament for SOKS. High Touch has sponsored the events every year for nine years.

Cutthroat Cookoff 2017The Cutthroat Cookoff paired five contestant teams, comprised of a professional chef and Wichita-area leader, challenging them to produce various courses of a meal on the fly with unknown ingredients.

The fun kicked off when the audience was drawn upon to sabotage the teams of their liking (or disliking), tripping them up and subjecting them to entertaining punishments. Each round offered potential to challenge the chefs with goofy ingredients, time-outs in the middle of the room, the infamous dog collar, and more!

Photos from the event

Shout out to the emcees who helped keep the show rolling! Tim Smith The Cookie Guy, Don Sherman from Westar Energy, and Gloria Van Rees from KAKE.

The talented judge panel was Denise Neil of The Wichita Eagle, John Michael of the Butler Community College Culinary Program and Executive Chef, and Guy Bower of The Good Life with Guy Bower.

Local Leader Local Chef
Lavonta Williams
City of Wichita – Government Council member
Elise Rush
Blue Moon Caterers
Wayne Chambers
President/CEO High Touch
James McBride
Newport Grill
Aaron Bastian
President, Fidelity Bank
Georgia Shook
Kansas Star Casino
Ashley Spriggs
Special Olympics of Kansas Athlete
Cynthia Wilson
Parsnipity Café & LumpiaPalooza Food Truck
Carol Hughes
KFDI Radio DJ
Bill Crites
Koch Industries

Thank you to the many sponsors that made Cutthroat Cookoff 2017 possible!
Fidelity Bank, Kent Aduio Visual, The Hudson, Blue Moon Caterers, Sprouts Farmers Market, Valley Offset Printing Tangible Advertising, Butler Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Ray Event & Tent Rental, LLC, Midwest Single Source, The Cookie Guy, plus our many table sponsors and silent auction donors!

Panera Bread 2 vouchers ($28 value)
Wichita Thunder Good for 4 (premium) Gift certificate ($96 value)
Rock River Rapids 4 passes ($36 value)
Chipotle 2 vouchers ($100 value)
YMCA 6 month membership ($349 value)
Jason’s Deli 2 gift cards ($20 value)
GoTime Training 4 bootcamp passes ($900 value)
Orpheum 4 tickets ($20 value)
Kansas City Royals 4 tickets ($60 value)
Junior League of Wichita Pinches & Dashes Cookbook ($29 value)
Casey’s General Stores 2 $25 gift cards, 2 $10 gift cards
Wichita Athletics 4 vouchers good for 4 general admission tickets each ($32 value)
K.Lanes Girls night cocktail party ($100 value)
Music Theatre Wichita 2 ticket vouchers ($116 value)
Crestview Country Club Certificate (Round of 4 Golf) ($600 value)
Fairfield Inn Weekend night stay with breakfast ($130 value)
Freddys (dinner for 4) Dinner for 4 ($60 value)
Jacque Inc Photography Gift certificate ($100 value)
Drury Hotel 1 night weekend stay ($150 value)
Tad’s Locker Room Gift certificate ($25 value)
Chick-Fil-A (Central & Rock) Gift basket
Seneca Bowl 6 free games ($15 value)
Holiday Galleria 2 tickets ($24 value)
Premier Party 2 tickets ($110 value)
Wichita Wingnuts 4 upper box reserved seats ($48 value)
Target Derby Gift card ($50 value)
Lucindas Pair of earrings ($28 value)
Wichita Room escape 2 tickets ($43 value)
Oaisis Lounge Gift card ($50 value)
Steve Murillo & The Frame Guild Cloudy skies drawing & a handmade custom frame
Beautiful day café Gift certificates ($70 value)
River City Brewery 2 dinner for 2 ($190 value)
Coleman Roadtrip LXE Grill & tent ($250 value)
Davis Moore 2 oil changes, 1 auto detail ($220 value)
Entrap Gift certificate for 2 ($50 value)
A Step Ahead 1 month group classes for 1-2 people ($80 value)
Hopping Gnome Glass cup set & T-shirt ($30 value)
Uline Webber Grill ($150 value)
Uline Zero Gravity Chair ($95 value)
Uline Plantronics BackBeat Fit headphones ($130 value)
Uline Men’s KC Royal Deluxe Polo ($57 value)
Uline Sports Duffel Bag ($40 value)
Christopher Clark Photography 5 Family Portrait sessions + 11×14 Wall Portrait
KC Chiefs Andy Reid Composite Brown Football
The KC Steak Company 4 10 oz KC Strip Steaks, & Steak Seasoning ($100 value)
Doug Northrop Blue Rose Painting
Zoo 2 passes
The Farris Wheel Gift basket
Wylde Wood Cellars Private wine tasting for 4 Merry Bauman
Woof Gang Bakery Doggie gift basket
The First Place 2 necklaces, 1 bracelet, a cut-glass serving tray
Kansas Star Casino 2 event tickets & dinner for 2
Intrust Bank Arena 2 PBR tickets
Pinot’s Pallete Gift certificate, painting, & wine bottle
Larkspur Gift card
Newport Grill Gift card
Butler Community College BBQ gift basket
Biggs Law Group BBQ gift basket

To the attendees, all of the people mentioned on this page and to anyone else we may have missed: your generosity has given great opportunities to the athletes of Special Olympics Kansas. Their experiences at the 2017 Charles E. Watson Golf and Softball Tournaments this summer will be forever enriched.