The food flew last week as five apprentice chefs took up their aprons and two apprentice sommeliers their corkscrews for Primavera Cooks! and its high-pressure challenge to conjure a five-star meal for 108 guests at Acacia at St. Philip's.
The fundraiser, in its ninth year, runs through the summer at various restaurants and benefits the Primavera Foundation, which provides a wide range of services for the homeless.
Apprentice chefs pay $250 and sommeliers $150 to work with some of the city's premier chefs and dish up a fine-dining experience. Diners can partake for $125, $50 of which is tax deductible.
Jim D'Antonio, in his third year as an apprentice chef, was up to his wrists in couscous Aug. 11 preparing the evening's entree.
"I like to cook," he said, adding, "It's a worthwhile charity and you meet a lot of nice people."
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Acacia is an enthusiastic supporter of the program; this is the sixth time it has participated.
"We believe in giving back, and The Primavera Foundation is a wonderful organization," said Acacia co-owner Lila Yamashiro. "We enjoy it, our staff enjoys it. We try to make it fun for everybody."
With his dose of fun, D'Antonio also got a taste of the intense labor in a professional kitchen.
"The people who work in the back of restaurants work like hell," he said as everyone from chefs to dishwashers bustled around him. "You get a greater appreciation for what these people do."
Contact photographer Kelly Presnell at presnell@azstarnet.com or 954-1974.
