Top Chef Carla Pellegrino to Judge Fourth Annual Delish 2015

Later this month, the fourth-annual foodie fundraising event known as Delish returns with a new twist. For the first time ever, Broward and Miami-Dade chefs who will compete for the title of "Most Delish County" as they work alongside student and graduates from ARC Broward Culinary Institute.

Delish 2015 Presented by PNC Bank will take place on April 17. The event will feature new chefs hailing from Miami-Dade, as well as Top Chef Carla Pellegrino as honorary chair, and CBS Taste of the Town's Lisa Petrillo as the host. An invitation-only, VIP kick-off event will take place at Kuro, the new Japanese restaurant at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, on Monday, April 6.

As with years past, Delish attendees will enjoy an evening of good food, drink, dancing, a silent auction, and live entertainment as part of a fundraising initiative to benefit ARC Broward, a non-profit that provides support for people with disabilities and other life challenges. Guests will have a chance to sample dishes prepared by competing stations by approximately 10 chefs and notable restaurants from both Broward and Miami-Dade counties, offering attendees the perfect evening to enjoy great food and raise money for an even greater cause.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the ARC Broward Culinary Institute, which offers a 16-week certificate program that allows students with developmental disabilities the ability to obtain real world, on-the-job training, with all revenues directly supporting job training, placement, and student scholarships in the culinary field. Other proceeds will be used to build a bigger culinary school and offer more opportunities for students to learn basic culinary skills to help them gain employment in the culinary world.

This year, participating chefs include James Beard nominee Giorgio Rapicavoli of Eating House; Louie Bossi of Louie Bossi’s Ristorante; Chopped winner Chef Adrienne Grenier of 3030 Ocean; Philip Darmon of Hardy Park Bistro; Andres Marin of the ARC Broward Culinary Institute; Sebastian Heil of Tower Club Fort Lauderdale; and Tom Azar of Lauderdale Yacht Club.

New to Delish, Pellegrino and Petrillo will judge and oversee a night filled with some of South Florida’s favorite chefs from Broward and Miami-Dade, who will face-off for the first time in the battle for "Most Delish County" in South Florida, and one chef will take home the title of best overall or "Most Delish Dish." In addition, a panel of local food bloggers will vote on their favorite dish, awarding a "Bloggers Choice" accolade to determine the final verdict of "Most Delish County" for Delish 2015.

As honorary chair, Pellegrino will serve as a judge for the competing South Florida chefs who will work alongside ARC Broward Culinary Institute Students and graduates. Pellegrino has a taste, style, and passion for fine cuisine that has defined her storied career as an accomplished chef. Today, she splits her time as executive chef of Touché Rooftop in Miami, and her other restaurant, Bratalian, in Las Vegas. Already established in the restaurant industry, Pellegrino secured a spot on Season 11 Top Chef and has been featured regularly on Today Show, CBS Morning Show, and was victorious on Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

The fourth annual Delish 2015 event will take place at the Young at Art Children's Museum on Friday, April 17, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. General admission tickets priced at $150. Call 954-424-0085, or visit youngatartmuseum.org.