HSI's Valley Vine Harvest Throwdown is Sunday

The Human Services Inc. (HSI) Valley Vine Harvest Throwdown will take over the Lake Elmo Event Center Sunday showcasing some of the best chefs in the St. Croix Valley while raising money for the nonprofit organization.

Each year, Chef John Schiltz of the Lake Elmo Inn challenges other area chefs to bring their best dishes to compete for the prize of “Top Chef of the Valley.”

The chefs were chosen based on the following criteria:

They needed to be in the valley area; they had to have a chef who could compete at a professional level and who believed in HSI’s mission; they had to use a local product on there plate; and “they had to believe they could beat me in a cooking competition,” Schiltz explained.

Overall, “we wanted the St. Croix River Valley to be well represented,” he added. “And I think we did just that.”

The participating restaurants are: , Lake Elmo Inn, , , , and Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque.

This year’s event is sold out, but check in with HSI at the end of next summer for ticket information for the 2012 event. 

Sneak Peek of 2011 Entrees

• Beef Wellington with Bearnaise sauce with roasted local mini vegetables
• Pork tenderloin with Kalamata olives, mushrooms, and feta cheese. Red wine reduction with local vegetables.
• Vanilla smoked baby back ribs with a cranberry and chipotle barbeque
• Duck confit and Roquefort in phyllo with dried cherries, duck prosciutto, butternut squash and maple glaze
• Carrot, Parmesan and potato gnocchi with garlic marinara and roasted lamb 
• Butter poached scallops with pumpkin puree and bacon, vanilla bean emulsion
• Chicken with thyme, foie gras cotton candy, and balsamic gastrique with rum and cherries  

Auction

A silent auction will take place throughout the night and will close with a live action. All proceeds from this event will benefit Human Services Inc.

Some of the auction items are as follows:

• Set of fourteen selected wines from HSI’s 2nd and 3rd Annual Valley Vine and Harvest Throwdown. 
Donors: The Wine Company and World Class Wines.
• Five course meal for 8 at Luna Rossa restaurant 
Donor: Luna Rossa Trattoria and Wine Bar

An afternoon of sailing, beverages, and appetizers on Lake Superior. Donors: Andy and Becky Braden
• Planked salmon dinner for eight with wine at the home of Chris and Vicky Griese.
Donors: Chris and Vicky Griese
• Golf for three with Phil Housley at Stillwater Country Club.
Donors: Stillwater Country Club, Phil Housley
• Take the Throwdown Home Basket.
Donor: HSI Board of Directors
• Guided bird hunt with dog for four at Wild Wings of Oneka.
Donors: Joe and Sue Sperber
• Chef prepared dinner for 8 in your home.
Donor: Phil’s Tara Hideaway