The 6th annual Stu and The Kid’s Flavors of Asia Food Fest Fundraiser, an exceptional Thai-flavored Food & Wine Festival hosted by Chef Stuart Skversky with the help of his friends, returns to Vibiana on Sunday, August 4, 2019. The event is a rare chance to experience original dishes created by Los Angeles’ Asian-food-loving chefs expressed through Far East influences and personal styles that have impressed guests since the inception of the event in 2014. All of the proceeds from this event are used towards scholarships for university education to help underserved and orphaned Hill Tribe kids in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In 2009, Stuart Skversky, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and rising-star chef, made a dramatic life change by giving up a promising culinary career in Los Angeles to move to Chiang Mai, becoming a full-time volunteer at the Wat Don Chan (a local Buddhist temple), teaching local children English, cooking and baking. Recognizing a need to help prepare these at-risk Hill Tribe kids following their graduation, he founded Stu and The Kids to better prepare them for adulthood, help them get into a university or technical college and give them the tools for an independent future. Funds raised go directly to the children’s education, school uniforms, supplies, housing, food and tuition for higher education. Now in their ninth year of fundraising throughout the world, Stu and The Kids has raised over $658,000 for the charity, including last year’s astounding record of $164,000 accumulated from the Los Angeles festival, in addition to fundraising on the east coast and online donations during 2018. Stu and The Kids supervises thirty-six kids, including sixteen that received 4-year scholarships in 2018 to support education and jobs in accounting, business management, in-home elder care, cooking and fashion and textiles and two with continuing 2-year master degree programs. The charity hopes to increase the awards to twenty more four-year university scholarships in the coming year.
VIP ticket purchasers will have early entrance at 2:30 p.m. to meet and chat with the chefs and receive a Stu and The Kids tote bag filled with special gifts including a signed copy of Jet Tila’s new cookbook, 101 Epic Dishes, a collectible Stu and the Kids baseball hat and much more.
Among the participating chefs for this year’s event are Hosts Neal and Amy Fraser, Vibiana; Walter and Marguerite Manzke, République; Hugo Bolanos, Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air; Eric Klein, Wolfgang Puck Catering; Eric Bost, Auburn; Gilberto Cetina, Chicken Itza, Holbox; Matt Lee, Restaurant 917; Jason Neroni, The Rose Café; Sherry Yard, The Tuck Room; Warren and Rose Schwartz, Magpies Softserve; Mei Lin, Nightshade; Food Network’s Jet Tila; Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, Jitlada; and Chef/Author Robert Danhi.
Other chefs to be announced; a complete list of participating chefs, restaurants, caterers and food artisans is listed below.
Beverages are plentiful to pair with spicy food and this year’s top-shelf purveyors list features a Thai-inspired cocktail made by tipple-smith Joshua Lucas and crisp summer selections from Bodega Wine Bar. Singha and Leo are featured Thai beers and Winebow Fine Wine+Spirits includes a fantastic range of wineries. Non-alcoholic choices are supplied by Herb + Orchard’s ready-made water infusions and Stu and The Kids famous fresh Coconut Bar.
The Flavors of Asia Food Fest fundraiser provides not only an amazing culinary experience but also showcases the exotic Thai culture. Guests can experience an educational presentation, activities for all ages including a vivid display of Northern Thai umbrellas and lanterns from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, performances of Thai music and an authentic Muay Thai boxing demonstration. The silent auction benefiting Stu and The Kids has a vast offering of beautiful photography of Chiang Mai locations, hand-made Hill Tribe bags and silver jewelry, gift baskets, autographed cookbooks, dinners at many of Los Angeles’ best restaurants and more available at great pricing.
A live auction of packages and experiences includes:
· Stu’s priceless Thailand vacation for two which includes a six-night stay at a luxury suite in a private eight thousand square meter estate bordering the National Parklands in the in the breezy foothills of Doi Suthep Mountain of Chiang Mai; a trip to the white temple in Chiang Rai and an elephant sanctuary; zip lining; overnight trekking and cooking class. The lucky winners will also have the honored chance to visit the Wat Don Chan Orphanage and serve lunch to The Kids, and have dinner with recipients of the Stu and The Kids Mentor and Scholarship Program.
· Lunch for two at Wolfgang Puck at the Hotel Bel Air with an exclusive overnight stay.
· A three night stay for up to eight guests in a luxurious Palm Springs desert estate, inclusive of a BBQ lunch or dinner by private chef, Deb Caponetta.
· Four Diamond Club tickets to the Angels vs. Boston Red Sox game on Friday, August 30, valued at $1,000.
· Four tickets to the LA Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers game.
Event hours for Stu and The Kid’s Flavors of Asia Food Fest are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $135 General Admission, $225 for VIP Admission and $25 for children 6-12 (under 6 are free). To purchase tickets, visit Flavors of Asia Food Fest to Benefit Stu and The Kids on eventbrite.com.
FLAVORS OF ASIA FOOD FEST TO BENEFIT STU AND THE KIDS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2019
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
2:30 p.m. for VIP tickets
General Admission: $135 in advance; $150 at the door, subject to availability
VIP Admission: $225; includes early admission and chef access.
Kids tickets: $25 for kids 6-12, (under 6 are free)
All tickets may be purchased online; visit: Flavors of Asia Food Fest to Benefit Stu and The Kids
WHERE: Vibiana, 214 South Main Street, Los Angeles, California 90012
Presenting Chef and Culinary Ambassador to Thailand: Chef Jet Tila
Participating Restaurants, Caterers and Food Artisans
Auburn
Ayara Thai
Bar Amá
Bodega Wine Bar
Chao Krung
Chicken Itza
Cookie Good
E Stretto
Ensaymada Project
Friends and Family
Holbox
Jitlada
Magpies
Night Shade
Olive Pit
Otus Thai Kitchen
Patina Catering
Redbird
Republique
Restaurant 917
Same Same
Savore Catering
Sinners and Saints
Tender Greens
The Rose
The Tuck Room Tavern
Vibiana
Wolfgang Puck Catering
Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel Air
SPONSORS
6 Degrees LA
Behind the DJ Booth
Chefs to End Hunger
Erik Fisher Photography
LA & SF Specialty
Red Boat Fish Sauce
The Bouqs Co.
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Vibiana
Winebow Fine Wines + Spirits
Wolfgang Puck Catering
ABOUT STU AND THE KIDS:
Stu and The Kids is a 501c3, tax-exempt nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for orphaned and underserved Hill Tribe children for continuing their education in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Stu and The Kids is committed to do good and make change by empowering kids, offering support, resources, opportunity and motivation while celebrating and respecting the diverse traditions, customs and culture of the communities where they do their work.
For further information, please visit Stu and the Kids on the web: www.stuandthekids.org
Stu and the Kids are social!
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/stuandthekids
On Instagram: @stuandthekids
On Twitter: @stuandthekids
