Chefs and Best Buddies team up for fundraiser

Sept. 19--An evening of culinary surprises awaits at the second annual TasteBuds event, sponsored by Best Buddies Pennsylvania.

Set for 6 to 10 p.m.Nov. 8 in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, the event will pair renowned area chefs with a buddy, a person with an intellectual disability who will act as sous chef to help to create some signature dishes for guests to enjoy.

Chef Derek Stevens, owner of Union Standard in downtown Pittsburgh, will participate for the second year with his buddy Tommy Kreutzer, 23, of Pittsburgh'sNorth Hills.

"I'm a parent first, and a parent of a special needs kid, so this organization is really close to my heart," Stevens says. "They help people get the most out of their lives.

"I had a blast with Tommy," he adds. "I hope we'll have a lifelong relationship, and that really speaks to what Best Buddies is all about."

Best Buddies International works to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including, but is not limited to, Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Last year's event raised $55,000 for Best Buddies Pennsylvania.

Stevens says the dish he and Kreutzer will prepare for this year's tasting is a secret, but it will be something along the lines of the "pizza pasta" they cooked up for 2016.

Kreutzer, who washes dishes and does food prep at the Over the Bar Bicycle Cafe at the North Park Boathouse in Allison Park, says his favorite part of TasteBuds is plating and serving the food and seeing the guests enjoy it.

Tickets are $100, or $150 for the VIP Experience including Champagne reception and gift bag.

Details: bestbuddies.org/tastebuds/pa/

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5750, smcmarlin@tribweb.com or via Twitter @shirley_trib.

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