After a hiatus of a few years, Galveston College teamed up with five of Galveston Island’s finest chefs to host the 2022 Five Fabulous Chefs culinary celebration event.
The culinary celebration, to be held on Sept. 13 and 14, from 5-8 p.m., at the Galveston College main campus atrium, features five of Galveston’s top chefs, including Chef Mary Bass from La Cocina and Good Dough Bakery, Chef Justin Bowen from the Grand Galvez, Chef Juan Cardona from the Galveston Restaurant Group, Chef Grant Marion of the Tremont House and Chef Megan Walker from the Saltwater Grill.
“I’m excited to be participating in the Five Fabulous Chefs this year, it’s my first event at Galveston College since I graduated in 2004,” said La Cocina owner and Galveston College alumna, Chef Bass. “We are preparing a meal to remember. Each of the five chefs will be preparing one of the five courses for the dinner.”
“As a Galveston College Culinary Arts graduate, this college means so much to me. I met the love of my life, Tim, here. I made many friends that I have maintained relationships with for over 20 years,” she added. “Being able to give back to something that has been such an important and integral part of my story is so rewarding. When choosing a place to go to college, Galveston College was at the top of my list.”
Chef Bass is a fifth-generation Galvestonian and earned her degree in Culinary Arts from Galveston College. She was runner-up on the Food Network's “Cutthroat Kitchen” and was in the top 6 for the Food Network’s “Ultimate Thanksgiving Showdown.” Chef Bass is a private chef, caterer and recently opened Good Dough, a gourmet kolache bakery, as a pop-up inside La Cocina, her commercial kitchen in Galveston.
Joining Chef Bass is Chef Justin Bowen, who is the new Executive Chef at the Grand Galvez in Galveston. A native Galvestonian, he grew up in New Mexico, where he learned from chefs with a vast array of culinary experience. After moving back to Texas, he joined the Grand Galvez, where he won his first People’s Choice award at the most recent Epicurean Night.
“This is a wonderful event and a chance for us to give back, not only in the aspect of the community but in the individual lives you are helping,” said Chef Bowen. “I was taught that the best way to keep what you have is to give it away freely. Every time we train a student, we re-educate ourselves. The fact that this is a charitable event is just a bonus. Getting to help mold the future while we're doing something for a cause is just awesome.”
The third member of the Five Fabulous Chefs team is Chef Juan Cardona, director of Culinary Operations at the Galveston Restaurant Group. He has over 30 years of experience and his culinary excellence has been featured on the Travel Channel’s “Food Paradise” and highlighted in several magazines.
Bringing another 20 years of culinary experience to the Five Fabulous Chefs event is Executive Chef Grant Marion at The Tremont House. He is proof that hard work pays off. Beginning his career bussing tables and shucking oysters, he quickly worked his way up the culinary ladder, learning every part of the kitchen, from top to bottom. Chef Marion and his team claimed the People’s Choice award and won Favorite Seafood Dish at the 2022 Galveston Epicurean.
“This experience has been an honor and the opportunity to work alongside some of Galveston’s greatest chefs has been fun and inspiring,” said Chef Marion.
Rounding out the Five Fabulous Chefs lineup is Saltwater Grill Chef Megan Walker, who developed her love for cooking by helping and learning alongside her mother and grandmother. With almost 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chef Walker excels at creating new and exciting flavor combinations that are a delight to the palate.
Proceeds from the Five Fabulous Chefs event will benefit Galveston College’s Building Tomorrow capital campaign for the new three-story Health Sciences Education Center under construction at the college’s main campus.
Reserved seating is limited and the event is business attire. For ticket and sponsorship information, call 409-944-1306.
ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE AND GALVESTON COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.
The Galveston College Foundation exists to support and enhance the ability of Galveston College to achieve its mission of advancing people’s lives through lifelong learning.