CHOPPED GR is BACK with a twist!
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CHOPPED GR
CHAMPIONS ROUND

Thursday October 10th, 2024
6-10pm, doors open at 5:30 
GLC Live @ 20 Monroe

Chopped Grand Rapids is back for it's 4th 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 2024. 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 2024 ChoppedGR Chefs

Chef Jeremy
​Paquin 

2018 ChoppedGR Champion

Chef Jeremy is with Blueberry Haven located in Grand Haven, MI, a new position for him. He worked with Essence Group from 2015 to 2024 as a Sous Chef at Bistro Bella Vita, Head Chef at Grove and eventually, served as the company’s Chief Culinary Officer, overseeing menus and mentoring chefs at Bistro, The Green Well, Grove and Lucy’s. Jeremy’s talents are showcased through his love of farm to table food and crafting dishes prepared from fresh, local products. Something you may not know about Jeremy is that he enjoys shopping for antiques.

Chef Oscar Moreno

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 Trimell Hawkins

2021 ChoppedGR Champion

​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.

Chef Wes
Zemla

Will there be a new​ Champion?

Wes Zemla is the Chef/Owner of Tiny Dinners, a luxury private dining experience in West Michigan that offers in-home tasting menus and culinary events. He’s spent the last 10+ years as a private chef working across the U.S. and South Pacific before moving back to Grand Rapids and starting Tiny Dinners at the end of 2020 with his wife, Sarah. Tiny Dinners believes the most exclusive table in town should be your own and bring high-end dining to you with progressive ingredient-driven menu design, attentive service, andcreativity throughout creating intimate, memorable dining experiences.
Wes Zemla is the Chef/Owner of Tiny Dinners, a luxury private dining experience in West Michigan that offers in-home tasting menus and culinary events. He’s spent the last 10+ years as a private chef working across the U.S. and South Pacific before moving back to Grand Rapids and starting Tiny Dinners at the end of 2020 with his wife, Sarah. Tiny Dinners believes the most exclusive table in town should be your own and bring high-end dining to you with progressive ingredient-driven menu design, attentive service, andcreativity throughout creating intimate, memorable dining experiences.

Become a Sponsor!

Headline Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors
Chef and Gold Sponsors

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.