CHOPPED GR is BACK!
Thursday October 7th, 2021
6-10pm, doors open at 5:30 
GLC Live @ 20 Monroe

Chopped Grand Rapids is back for it's 3rd year to support The Power of Education Foundation! Four of Grand Rapids' top chefs have accepted the challenge to compete and fight to be crowned Chopped Grand Rapids Champion 2021. While the chefs show off their creative genius in hopes of wowing the judges and the crowd, guests will savor a roaming dinner, desserts and drinks from the cash bar. Win some fabulous prizes during raffle and silent & live auctions between rounds of cooking. Event tickets will be limited and always to sell out. Get yours before they're gone, so you don't miss out on all the fun. 

Meet the 2021 ChoppedGR Chefs

Chef Oscar Moreno

MEXO
2019 ChoppedGR
​Champion

​Chef Oscar Moreno is from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. He has been the executive chef for Baker Loft Events, Theodore’s Restaurant, Serafina’s, Sandy Point Beach House and now can be found at his brand new place MeXo. Food has always been important to his family, and he has worked under chefs from several different countries. This has enriched his appreciation for different cultures, and led him to make his career working in resorts, hospitality, international cuisine and restaurant management.
MeXo is located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids across the street from the Children's Museum. It is a prehispanic influenced Modern Mexican cuisine featuring Chef Oscar’s authentic regional cuisine; craft margaritas, extensive tequila and mezcal selection; and homemade tortillas.

Chef Luke Verhulst

RESERVE
2019 ChoppedGR
​Runner-Up

​Chef Luke, a Grand Rapids native, started working in professional kitchens as a teenage and has never looked back. He quickly moved up the culinary ladder, finding his way to Reserve in 2012. Here he is able to hone his craft, focusing on whole animal butchery and charcuterie and is a vibrant supporter of locally grown and responsibly raised product. Luke sees everyday as an opportunity to grow and innovate, both personally and on the plate. He lives on the West Side and when not in the kitchen, loves to get out for a long motorcycle ride. 

Chef Jenn Fillenworth

JENNY WITH THE GOOD EATS
​ROOT FARMACY

Chef Jenn is the Executive Chef for Root Farmacy, Personal Chef for her brand Jenny with the Good Eats, and an adjunct instructor for GRCC’s culinary program. Inspired at a young age by food science and a lot of Alton Brown’s show “Good Eats”, she pursued a career intertwining human nutrition with culinary arts. As both a chef and registered dietitian, Jenn creates food that serves a nutritional purpose yet packs a culinary punch of flavor. 
Unable to work as a personal chef due a serious car accident in 2019, Jenn started to put some ideas on paper and dream about what’s next. During her recovery, the concept of Root Farmacy was born and she returned to work in March 2020 to help make the concept a reality.
Throughout 2020, Chef Jenn was named one of the “40 Under 40 Business Leaders” by the Grand Rapids Business Journal, “Emerging Leader” at the West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards and topped it off with a Food Network win on the show “Supermarket Stakeout”.

Chef Trimell Hawkins

CANOPY HOTEL

​Born in Chicago but spending most of his childhood in Holland, MI, Chef Trimell didn’t discover his love for cooking until he served in the U.S. military. After leaving the service in 2008, he worked his way through various kitchens until attending and completing his culinary training at the Secchia Institute of Culinary Arts under Master Chefs Campbell, Renusson, and Dunn.  After graduation, Chef Trimell spent a summer working with Chef Mark Elliot, the esteemed owner of Elliot’s on Linden in North Carolina. He then spent time as Sous Chef under Master Chef Kevin Dunn.  Although trained in classical French cooking, Chef Trimell brings his own heart-felt style and flair, blending southern elements into dishes and focusing on cooking with great technique.

Our Amazing Sponsors

A huge thank you to all of our event sponsors who are helping to make this an incredible night and successful event!
Platinum Sponsors
Chef and Bar Sponsors
Gold Sponsors

Interested in Becoming an Event Sponsor?

Be part of the action at one of our sponsor tables. There are 1 Gold Sponsorship package remaining. The Gold Sponsorship package includes a reserved high top table, 6 tickets, a champaign toast, access to the VIP lounge prior to the event and  your logo featured on website, auction platform, table, banner and programs. Please contact Sue Pastoor or visit our Chopped Sponsorship page for more information or to purchase sponsorship.

Have an Item or Experience You'd Like to Donate to the Auction?

As a Grand Rapids based non-profit, we know many in our local community believe in supporting education and efforts to make sure every child has the opportunity to learn. Would you or do you know someone who would be willing to donate a gift certificate, item, service or experience to our auction? For your generosity, your business will be recognized in our event materials, slide show, auction tables and online bidding platform. You will also receive a donation letter for tax purposes. 
Open and download/print the Auction Item Donation Form to donate to the auction​
Open and download/print the Auction Donation Request Letter to learn more about donating items to the auction. You can also use this letter find others who may want to donate.

The Power of Education School in Haiti

The Power of Education Foundation opened a school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2010 and currently supports 235 students grades K-9 with quality education, nutrition support and health care. This school has become the anchor in a vulnerable community, providing a safe place for children to learn and community groups to meet. For eight years, the school operated out of a rented building, but last year we raised the funds to purchase the building! This year we are raising money to fund scholarships, expand programming and support our students and families.
ALL PROCEEDS OF THIS EVENT WILL BE USED TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS, EXPAND PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS. **​If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to make a donation to the GR Chopped Challenge Fundraiser, follow the donate button below.