Mobile Meals Chili Cook-off!!!

If you are looking for something to help get you out of this weather slump, check out the Mobile Meals’ Great Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, March 23rd, at the Stranahan.

It runs from noon-4 p.m. but you'll probably need to get there by 3 p.m. if you want chili - some teams run out; plus the awards start then.

Admission is free and you can sample from 19 chili teams. There will be a DJ, concessions which include beer, pop, hot dogs and Toft's Ice Cream - an a classic car show outside (weather permitting).

You *vote* for your favorite chili with your dollars - making a contribution to their jar based upon your preference for 'the best.' Your donations will help determine the People's Choice winners while the judges will name the other winners.

If you like chili, you’ll love this event - and you'll help a terrific organization at the same time!

About Mobile Meals:

Mobile Meals of Toledo, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer-based social service agency that delivers nourishing food—at home and at school—to those whose nutritional needs might otherwise go unmet. We have been serving our community since 1967.

Our home-delivered Meals on Wheels Program serves over 1,200 clients annually. More than 500 volunteers deliver over 500,000 nutritious meals to homebound people who are elderly, ailing, or physically disabled every year. Packaged along with every meal is the dignity and independence that all people treasure. With their nutritional needs met, and with our concerned volunteers checking on their health and well-being daily, many of our clients can postpone—or eliminate altogether—the need for more extensive and expensive care arrangements.

The Weekender Meal Program provides food to children who would otherwise get inadequate nourishment over the weekend. Students who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches receive a bag of food every Friday afternoon. The bags contain kid-friendly snacks—all healthy items that require no refrigeration and are easily opened by children. Students get more to eat all weekend long so they can come to school Monday morning nourished and ready to learn.

Mobile Meals Wine Gala 2012

Sam and I have just finished drafting the live auction program for the Mobile Meals annual Wine Gala fundraiser on November 3rd - and I think this is one of the best years yet!

Because this is the 25th annual event, there are some very special wines in the live auction of fine wines. Many of the bottles, which have been donated by wine collectors and aficionados in the area, include some wines and vintages that are no longer available on the open market.

Here is a sampling of what will be available for bidding:

Lot #5 - First Featured Lot valued at $1,200:

1990 Chateau Margaux

Lot #9 - Magnificent Mags of Cab valued at $700:

2007 Silver Oak
2007 Duckhorn Monitor Ledge
2008 Stag’s Leap Artemis
2010 Caymus

Lot #10 - Second Featured Lot with a starting bid of $1,000:

1993 Louis Jadot Le Chambertin Grand Cru
1995 Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin
1996 Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin
1999 Domaine Jacques Prieur Chambertin Clos de Beze
1999 Louis Jadot Corton Grand Cru
1999 Domaine Jacques Prieur Chambertin Grand Cru
1999 Louis Jadot Corton Greves Grand Cru
1999 Lucien Le Moine Volnay Les Caillerets 1er Cru
2002 Caves de la Colombe Vosne Romanee
2003 Domaine La Milliere Chateauneuf de Pape
2005 Ballot Millot Pommard Pezerolles 1er Cru
2005 Domaine Gourt de Mautens Rasteau

Lot #14 valued at $750:

2001 Chateau Mouton Rothschilde

Lot #15 - Third Featured Lot valued at $1,900:

1982 Chateau d’Angludet Margeaux
1985 Chateau Trotanoy Pomerol
1985 Chateau les Ormes de Pez Saint-Estephe
1986 Chateau Bel Air Haut-Medoc
1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac

Lot #22 valued at $500:

Four magnums of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
2003, 2004, 2007, 2008

Lot #24 valued at $1,000:

1975 Chateau Caillou Sauternes
1981 Chateau Caillou Sauternes Private Cuvee
1977 Graham’s Vintage Port
1983 Warre’s Vintage Port
1985 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
1994 Warre’s LVB Port

Lot #25 - Fifth Featured Lot valued at $2,000:

2001 Chateau Latour
2001 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

In addition to the live auction of fine wines, there will be more than a dozen wine distributors providing attendees with tastings of their wines; an extremely generous hors d'ouevres table to complement the tastings; a full gourmet meal with wine; desserts; a silent auction of all kinds of wondrous things (wines and wine-related included); music, dancing and general fun for all.

Tickets are $150, but when you consider all the wine you get with the evening, it's actually a bargain.

And since this is a fundraising event, all proceeds benefit Mobile Meals of Toledo, one of the best charitable organizations in the city.

They serve meals to more than 600 clients daily - all via volunteers who deliver the meals directly to the client, providing in-person contact with individuals who are elderly, ill, disabled, homebound, convalescing or who need assistance with diet and meal preparation in order to remain in their own homes and retain the dignity and independence they treasure.

We're so lucky to have an organization like Mobile Meals and I hope you'll consider attending this event, donating to them if you can't, or volunteering some time to help with their events, programs or meal delivery.

You won't be disappointed!

A good cause: Mobile Meals Rummage Sale

As readers of this blog know, I'm a strong supporter of Mobile Meals of Toledo. I know they're a terrific organization doing great things in our community. They're volunteer driven and serve thousands of meals each year - helping individuals (on a short-term or long-term basis) stay in their homes.

They're holding a fundraising Rummage Sale on Saturday, March 31st, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale will take place at 115 S. Reynolds Road, near Hill & Reynolds at the strip mall next to Burger King The building formerly housed Golf Technologies.

They are currently accepting donations which can be dropped off at the above location between 10:30 and noon today, Feb. 25, March 3 and March 10. If you need to make special arrangements for dropping off the donations, you can call the Mobile Meals office at 419-255-7806.

So rummage through your closets, basements and garages, clean out what you don't need or want anymore and help a great organization in the process!

Mobile Meals Wine Gala 2011

When I first ran for office in 1993, we got a lot of invitations to events and activities we'd never even heard of before. One of them was the Wine Gala fundraiser for Mobile Meals of Toledo, which we decided to attend.

We had a blast! It was a great evening with scrumptious appetizers, interesting and affordable silent auction items, a gourmet dinner, a live auction of finer wines and then music and dancing afterward. Other than our wedding, it was the first time we'd been to a black-tie event.

Even better than the fun we had that night, we learned about Mobile Meals and their mission - to assist "the elderly, ill, disabled, and homebound to remain in their homes and retain their independence and dignity." They do this by providing nutritious meals so the individual doesn't have to worry about shopping or cooking.

We were impressed with the organization as well as the people involved and decided that we wanted to support it. Mobile Meals had won a place in our hearts.

Since then, we have devoted both our time and our resources to this fantastic organization. I've chaired the Wine Gala and served on the Board of Trustees. And I know that today, its mission is even more critical.

The Wine Gala is one of the major fundraising events and this year's celebration will be Saturday November 5th at the Stranahan Great Hall. Tickets are $125/person and are available now.

While some might think the ticket price is a bit high, you certainly get your money's worth. The evening starts with a wine tasting from 14 area distributors. The distributors usually bring five or more different wines to sample. This is accompanied by scrumptious hors d'oeuvres from local eateries and have included, in the past, everything from cheese and crackers to smoked salmon to asparagus wrapped in prosciutto.

The gourmet dinner varies from year to year and is a far cry from the typical chicken dish you get at most events. Additionally, the committee selects two dinner wines (a red and a white) to be served with the meal. Samples are tasted to be sure the wines provide a good compliment to the dinner. Desserts have been anything from bite-sized petit fours to gourmet cakes. There is a selection, so you're sure to find something to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Throughout the evening, tables of silent auction items are bid upon. You probably won't find a better selection of silent auction items at any other event. While many of the items are wine-related, most are not.

But the main event is the live auction of fine wines, many from the private cellars of collectors in the area. As we still serve on the live auction committee, I can share with you some of the finer selections that will be available for bidding in the live auction.

There is a case of Italian wines:

1993 Marchesi di Barolo
1994 La Casa Brunello di Montalcino
1995 Bricco dell' Uccellone Barbera d'Asti
1998 Barbera d'Asti Superior
1998 Vitanza Brunello Di Montalcino
1999 Masi Costasera Amarone
2000 Novaia Amarone Della Valpolicella
2001 Parusso Barolo
2001 Seghesio Barolo
2003 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino
2003 La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino
2003 Parusso Barolo

A magnicifent case of bordeaux:

1980 Chateau Talbot Saint Julien
1981 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint Julien
1982 Chateau Villemaurine Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe
1982 Cotes De Bourg Chateau Falfas
1983 Chateau Gruaud Larose
1983 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande Pauillac
1984 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comteese De Lalande Pauillac
1985 Chateau Les Ormes De Pez Saint-Estephe
1986 Chateau Beychevelle Saint Julien
1986 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion
1989 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru Classe Pauillac
1989 Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc

This donation - two bottles of each:

2002 Chateau Latour
2202 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

And the featured lot:

1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
1989 Chat au Longueville
1990 Chateau Pichon Longueville
1995 Chateau la Renaudie
1997 Chateau D'Angludet

All of these wines have been properly stored and some are no longer available on the open market.

The event concludes with live music and dancing.

If you'd like to join us for a fun evening benefiting a terrific organization, you can order tickets here. Donations are also welcome if you cannot attend. Additionally, if you'd like to volunteer for the event, or to help deliver meals, even as a substitute, please call the office at 419-255-7806.

Saturday: Mobile Meals Chili Cookoff

This Saturday marks the 18th Annual Great Chili Cookoff fundraiser for Mobile Meals from noon until 4 p.m. at Stranahan Great Hall on Heatherdowns.

While there will be concessions available, the main focus will be on the various chili entries in the amateur, corporate, media, restaurants and salsa categories - all of which will be available for tasting and voting.

Awards will be given for the People's Choice (based upon the voting by attendees), and the Judge's Choice. Awards will be announced at 3 p.m.

Additionally, there will be entertainment, chef demonstrations and the Black Swamp Cruisers' Classic Car Show.

All proceeds go to support the Mobile Meals Home Delivery program which provides over 600 meals each day to "enable the elderly, ill, disabled, homebound, the convalescing and all those who need assistance with diet and meal preparation to remain in their own homes and retain the dignity and independence they treasure."

My husband and I have been involved with Mobile Meals since 1993. It's a fantastic organization and I hope you'll support their efforts by attending this fun - and delicious - event!

Mobile Meals - 21st Annual Wine Gala

Last year, many of you read my post about the Mobile Meals annual Wine Gala and asked that I write about it far enough in advance that you could get tickets and participate. So here you go:

Mobile Meals 21st Annual Wine Gala
Saturday, November 1, 2008
$125/ticket

There will be tons of appetizers and numerous wine distributors will offer many of their wines for a tasting. This is followed by a sumptuous sit-down dual entree dinner with wine on the table to complement the meal. There is a live band for entertainment and dancing pleasure.

Throughout the evening there is a silent auction and, following dinner, a live auction of exquisite wines - some not found anywhere other than at this event.

Note: So far there are 14 wine vendors and they usually bring more than 5 different wines to taste. Appetizers are too numerous to mention and are better than most events that feature only appetizers. I do not yet know the wine for dinner as that is being selected at a tasting tonight. We usually select both a white and a red to complement the meal. I'll update you later tonight or tomorrow with the selection and can give you my impression of the meal to be served. (Obviously, we eat the meal during the selection of the table wine - yum!)

This event has something for all tastes and the auction items contain items to fit all budgets. Not only is this one of the best wine events in Northwest Ohio, but it also benefits a terrific cause: Mobile Meals of Toledo. All auction items, appetizers and wines for tasting are donated. The proceeds all go to fund Mobile Meals programs.

Click here for ticket information.

Save the date - Mobile Meals Chili Cookoff

Mobile Meals of Toledo will host their 16th annual Great Chili Cookoff on Saturday, April 12, at the Stranahan Great Hall.

There will be competitions for corporate, amateur, media and restaurant. The event runs from noon until 5 p.m. with awards at 4 p.m.

Competition:
* Taste a variety of award-winning chili
* Vote for your favorites for the People's Choice Award
* A celebrity panel of judges will award the Judge's Choice
* Chili Corporate Team Competition - Noon-4 p.m.
* Chili Amateur Team Competition - Noon-4 p.m.
* Chili Media Team Competition - Noon-2 p.m.
* Restaurant Competition - Noon-4 p.m.
* Salsa Tasting from Area Companies

Entertainment consists of music, chef demonstrations and the Black Swamp Cruisers' Classic Car Show. There will be food and beverages available, including Toft's Ice Cream!

If you've got a killer chili recipe, you have until March 28 to enter, with registration forms available for all categories here. If you just want to taste while supporting a terrific cause, mark April 12th on your calendar.

This is a fun and delicious event with 100% of the proceeds going to support Mobile Meals' Home Delivery program. Hope to see you there!

Mobile Meals Wine Gala this weekend!

When I first ran for office, my name got added to a lot of mailing lists. One of the invitations we received was for the Mobile Meals Wine Gala and, since it sounded like lots of fun, my husband and I went.

And fun it was! We we so impressed by the people, the staff, the event and the format that we called them up and asked to volunteer to help out. That was in 1993 and we've been working with Mobile Meals since then.

Because of our schedules, it's always been hard to give of our time as well as our money - but Mobile Meals is the one organization we chose for giving of both. And we do not regret it.

I've had the honor of serving on their board (for the maximum six years allowed) and chaired, with a friend, the Wine Gala two years in a row. This is the 20th year that Mobile Meals has hosted the Wine Gala, their major fund-raising event. The evening starts with a wine tasting from multiple vendors, appetizers donated by various organizations and businesses, a silent auction of around 200 items and a live auction of fine wines - many of which you won't find anywhere else - dinner with wine, of course, and delectible desserts...oh - and dancing, too!

This year's event is tomorrow night, which means we'll be setting up most of the day and then enjoying. So if posts are absent this weekend, you'll know it's because we REALLY enjoyed all the wine! (designated driver excepted)

If you're looking for a great place to help out or volunteer, I'd ask you to consider Mobile Meals. And if you like a good party for a good cause, make sure to get your tickets for next year's event early!

Mobile Meals Chili Cookoff

Ummmm....chili....

Saturday was the annual Mobile Meals Chili Cookoff and my niece, Ashley, and I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful variety of tastes present at this event.

We methodically moved up and down the various aisles obtaining the small containers of chili and noting any uniqueness in presentation or special items. Many had cheese, sour cream and onions. A couple included small cornbread muffins...Nick & Jimmy's had bread with Texas butter.

We were impressed by Penta Vocational Schools' offerings...The seniors (pictured) did an Oriental Spicy Chili and the juniors called theirs "Ugly Duckling Chili." Even though they didn't end up as one of our favorites, they were very tasty and very unique.

Of our top three picks, we agreed on two. My niece loves the very spicy, but I don't, which is why WXKR 94.5's "Highway to Hell" chili ended up as her #2 choice. Our #3 choice was Mature Living Magazine, which we felt had an excellent consistency and a taste that everyone could enjoy. Ashley's #1 was my #3...The Toledo Zoo Catering's offering which was very different from all the others, we think because the chili was topped with sour cream and cilantro. The cilantro really added a uniqueness to the flavors and we both decided that the next time I make chili, we'll try that as a topping.

My #1 choice was Level 3 chili from the Toledo Neighborhood Block Watch. Their recipe was very traditional, not too spicy, and a bit thinner than some of the others, which made it perfect for adding sour cream, cheese and crackers. Additionally, they made Apple Crisp to help 'cleanse the pallet' and topped it with whipped cream. The Apple Crisp was loaded with pecans and was the perfect end to a long selection of chilis. Aside from their great chili, these Block Watch members were having a terrific time, and you couldn't help but smile and laugh as they plied their offerings...

Mobile Meals is a terrific organization that my husband and I have supported for a number of years. If you'd like more information about Mobile Meals, would like to volunteer to help or participate in this event or their Wine Gala (which will celebrate its 20th year this November), or would be willing to help individuals within our community maintain their independence by delivering meals, click here.