AmeriTitle 2015 Chefs on Tour July 14 4:30 -7:30 p.m.

By Damian Fagan,

for The Bulletin Special Projects

Throw a party and where does everyone end up? The kitchen, of course. So what better way is there for showcasing the exquisite homes on the Central Oregon Builders Associations’ (COBA) Amerititle Chefs on Tour than by having a professional chef preparing tasty treats in dream kitchens? Culinary reasons aside, this tour offers opportunities to check out the latest home-building trends and compare construction styles of some of the region’s most well known builders.

The first year of the Amerititle Chefs on Tour in 2013, 400 tickets were sold in a few days. Last year 600. This year the limit has risen to 700 for the one night event to be held on Tuesday, July 14 from 4:30 -7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35, the same as last year, and are expected to sell out.

“We have been amazed at the popularity of this event, and hope to accommodate a few more folks this year,” said Sheri Terry, event organizer for COBA. Though that’s a lot of chopping and prepping, the chefs rise to the challenge, and the competition. Yeah, even in Bend the chefs compete.

Past president of COBA, Dan Pahlisch, brought the Amerititle Chefs on Tour concept to Bend after enjoying a similar event in the Tri-Cities area in Washington a few years ago. The concept of beautiful homes paired with fine cuisine seemed like an easy sell, and he was right. The 2014 COBA Tour included another key ingredient of the Bend scene – craft beers – which were paired with delicious dishes like the favorite pork belly on a plate of greens.

The chefs participating this year will include the defending winner of last year’s Amerititle Chefs on Tour, James Ludwicki of 10 Barrel Brewing, and Bleu Bite Catering’s Cerstin Cheatham who won best of during the Holiday Chefs on Tour in 2014.

“These chefs are some of the best in town and we couldn’t be more excited to work with them,” said Terry. Bragging rights are the gold medal the chefs are dishing for.

This year’s tour will include eight pairings of chefs with area builders.

Pahlisch Homes, which won Best Kitchen for the 2014 Amerititle Chefs on Tour, is matched up with Cerstin Cheatam of Bleu Bite Catering.

DC Graham, a premier custom home builder in Central Oregon, is sure to wow event-goers with their construction, design and quality craftsmanship. Paired with 900 Wall’s Chris Leyden their entry will prove stiff competition.

Greg Welch Construction’s Tetherow homes have signature gourmet kitchens with high ceilings, beautifully stained hickory cabinets and a blend of Old West meets New West influences. Welch won best kitchen in the 2014 Tour of Homes for homes in the $925,000 – $1,000,000 range. They will be paired with the 2014 Chefs on Tour winner James Ludwicki from 10 Barrel.

Hayden Homes will match up with Chef Zach Hoffman from Tetherow. Hayden Homes won Best Value in homes priced from $300,000 – $350,000 last year.

JD Neel Construction will have a home in NW Crossing open to air the yummy aromas of chefs from the Broken Top Bottle Stop.

Structural Development NW cleaned up in the $750,000-$800,000 category last year winning Best Architectural Design, Best Kitchen and Best of Show, to mention a few. This year they will have Nickol Hayden-Cady from the Foxtail BakeShop in the kitchen, creators of fine pastries, desserts and wedding cakes. Here you can peruse an exquisite home and have your cake, too!

Choice One Builders is finishing off a home, getting ready to host chefs from Tim Garling’s Jackalope Grill. Choice One won Best Interior Finish for homes in the $255,000-$300,000 range.

Palmer Homes will team up with Bowtie Catering and Chef Gene Soto, a former chef at Deschutes Brewery and Desert Wind Winery.

Featured this year are homes in the price range from $520,000 – $1.6 million. To direct people to each home, this year there will be a map and each ticket also indicates the order of homes to visit. This helps the chefs prepare for the waves of participants.

To purchase tickets for the 2015 AmeriTitle Chefs on Tour event, contact Sheri Terry of COBA at sherit@coba.org or 541-389-1058.