MESA, A Collaborative Kitchen is hosting a special event tomorrow, June 5, where attendees can watch the 500th episode of Chopped with the first episode where Martha Stewart is a permanent judge. This episode features local participant Chef Madeleine Dee,  owner of Fond Restaurant, who will be at the viewing and serving up light refreshments . Cocktails are from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the party is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 and  20% of ticket sales will go to Home of the Innocents. 

“I competed last year, and I had to keep it a secret for 7 months,” said Chef Dee. “Keeping that secret was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Light refreshments from Chef Dee’s product line Fond Originals will be served (risotto Cakes with pasta sauce, fig pizzas, and their strawberry-ginger and blueberry-lemon jams with sugar cookies),   and there will be a cash bar. Fond Originals are sold in small stores like Paul’s Fruit Markets, MESA, the Bluegrass Exchange in Norton Commons and Highlands Fish Market in Chenoweth Square.

You can buy tickets online.  

Photography by Crystal  Ludwick