Fire and Fusion-An Executive Chef Competition, May 4, 2022  6-9:00pm at Alpine Grove, Hollis

Benefits: The Nashua Senior Activity Center, 70 Temple St, Nashua NH  03060, whose mission is “to promote healthy aging, independence, and the well-being of older adults through health, wellness, educational, cultural, and recreational programs and services.

After being held virtually in 2020 and not held in 2021, the 9th, Fire and Fusion-An Executive Chef Competition returns to an in-person format in 2022. The purpose of the event is to not only raise funds for the 100% self-funded Nashua Senior Activity Center, but also to highlight the culinary talents of the Executive Chefs that work in healthcare, nursing home, hospital and assisted living facilities.  It is based on the show “Chopped” where contestants are given secret ingredients at the beginning of the competition and then have a certain length of time to make a creative dish using each ingredient.

The first, Fire and Fusion was held in 2013 at the Nashua Senior Activity Center.  It was so successful that we outgrew the facility and moved the event to the Alpine Grove Banquet Facility in 2014.  The event usually sells out every year at 350 tickets.  A limited number of VIP tickets that will allow early admission will once again be available.  Regular tickets are $50 each/table of 10 - $450 and VIP tickets are $60 each/table of 10 - $550.

Local media personality Mike Morin will host the event.  He brings an unparalleled professionalism to the event, and is in charge of determining the secret ingredients. He is a well-known NH celebrity having spent many years in radio and TV.  He offers his services for free to the Senior Activity Center.  A professional sound and video company does a live feed video on two large screens and the entire venue is wired for sound with additional speakers. 

This year we have 2 mystery celebrity judges as well as Chef Nicole Barreira, Corporate Chef and Marketing Manager for Great NH Restaurants and  Susan Laughlin, Food Editor for NH Magazine  When guests arrive, they will be greeted by hundreds of appetizers with a Mediterranean flavor matching this year’s theme, “A Night In Monte Carlo”.  Guests will then vote for the “People’s Choice” winner. During that time, guests are also able to purchase tickets for more than 25 high end raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing. 8-10 chefs participate in the “People’s Choice” portion of the event.

At 7pm the guests are welcomed, and there is a parade of secret ingredient baskets.  Then the competition begins. 8 chefs compete in the timed portion of the competition.  Mike Morin circulates around doing play by play and speaking with the chefs.  At the end of the competition, each chef is called to the judging table to present each judge with a dish that they have prepared.  This year, the chefs will prepare an extra plate which will be used for the live feed video so that attendees can get an up close image of the plated food.  Each judge comments and scores the food.  The judge’s scores are given to our crack accounting volunteers, who tabulate the winner.  While the scores are tabulated, there will be a live auction of several high value donations.  Finally, with the crowd on the edge of their seats, the winners are announced and presented a trophy.

After this, a 50/50 winner is drawn and winners are drawn for the large, gift baskets.

The judges are thanked and attendees are thanked.

Our goal is to raise $60,000 for the Senior Activity Center with this event.  It is the largest fundraising event of the year for the completely self-funded, Nashua Senior Activity Center.

Contact information for this event can be found below.

Judy Porter, MBA

Development Director

Nashua Senior Activity Center

603-816-2649

jporter@nashuaseniorcenter.org