Troy, Mich., September 14, 2010 – CRUSH SOMERSET COLLECTION will bring together aficionados of fine food and great wine in a first-class setting to benefit Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan, a statewide agency helping Michigan families cope with leukemia, lymphoma, and related blood disorders. Scheduled from 7:30PM to 1AM on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, the event will be held in the Rotunda at SOMERSET COLLECTION – South and feature celebrity-hosted wine and food pairing stations.
Novices and connoisseurs alike will savor pairings of the very best food and wine, prepared by chefs with international acclaim, including Honorary Executive Chef Debbie Gold, James Beard winner, restaurateur and BRAVO TV personality; Honorary Master Pastry Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, Master Chocolatier and BRAVO TV personality; and Honorary Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson, author and Food Network TV personality. Other special guests will include Honorary Event Chair, Detroit Pistons NBA player Jonas Jerebko with a rare appearance from Darioush Khaledi, Honorary Family Vineyard Proprietor, Darioush Winery of Napa, California.
Local celebrity chefs such as Jim Barnett, Executive Chef of the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel-Detroit; Brian Polcyn, Proprietor and Chef of Forest Grill in Birmingham; Myles Anton, Executive Chef/Proprietor, Trattoria Stella, Traverse City; Randy Chamberlain, Executive Chef/Proprietor, Blue, Glen Arbor; Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux, Executive Chef/Proprietor, La Bécasse, Maple City; and John Korycki, Executive Chef/Proprietor, Zazios Modern Italian Trattoria, Kalamazoo & Birmingham will also participate. Honorary Wine Director and Master Sommelier Ron Edwards will join a host of wine ambassadors, including Master Sommeliers Madeline Triffon and Claudia Tyagi.
Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan will present two awards during the event. The recipients of The CRUSH Humanitarian Award are Elizabeth and Sydney Ross, Co-Owners of Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, and founding members of The Garden Party Foundation and the Elizabeth and Sydney L. Ross Foundation. Michael Ansley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Diversified Holdings Group and Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan Board Member, will be recognized with the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan’s President’s Leadership Award.
“We are excited and thrilled to present the CRUSH SOMERSET COLLECTION 2010 Wine and Food Classic. This signature event features world-renowned chefs and wine experts, coupled with entertainment, and a spectacular venue – The SOMERSET COLLECTION,” said William D. Seklar, President of Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. “Our foundation is incredibly grateful to those who support Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan and CRUSH. All proceeds from this event benefit our organization and the thousands of Michigan patients and families that we serve. We are looking forward to an extraordinary event.”
Co-chairs for CRUSH SOMERSET COLLECTION are Christine and David Morrow. Tickets are $250 per person for general admission. The main event ticket for CRUSH SOMERSET COLLECTION includes a Taittinger toast, wine and small plate pairing stations, a silent wine auction, and later, midnight bites at our after-hours venue. There is also a patron ticket available for $350 per person, which includes a Dom Perignon Champagne Reception, sponsored by Varnum Law, at Brooks Brothers prior to the event. For more information, visit www.crushmichigan.com.
The CRUSH After Hours event, sponsored by Rémy Cointreau USA and supported by 93.9 FM The River, will immediately follow the main event with a trendy club atmosphere, open bar, midnight bites, a live performance by local Detroit artist Robin Horlock, and music and dancing to Detroit’s-own DJ “Mike Anthony.” Tickets for CRUSH After Hours are $50 in advance and $65 at the door.
Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan would like to recognize the CRUSH SOMERSET COLLECTION sponsors: The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Great Lakes Wine and Spirits, Dom Perignon, Rémy Cointreau USA, The Somerset Collection, The Forbes Company, Gerych’s, Forte Belanger, Sub Zero and Wolf Appliances, FIJI Water, Smart Car, Varnum Law Firm, GM Foundation, Charity Motors, Miller Canfield, BERLINE, Boyne Resorts, Bagger Dave’s and National Wine Spirits.
About Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan
Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan is a statewide agency helping families cope with leukemia, lymphoma, and related disorders by providing information, financial assistance, and emotional support. In addition, CLF has provided more than $6.5 million in research dollars to Michigan’s comprehensive cancer institutes. Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. For more information, call 1-800-825-2536 or visit www.leukemiamichigan.org.
