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.
The 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!
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 |