Stuff yourself for scholars

Everybody loves unlimited food and drinks, or at least that is the idea behind Golden West College’s yearly fundraising event.

The Huntington Beach community college is hosting Chefs for Scholarships, an all-you-can eat sample of Huntington Beach’s cuisine at a family friendly picnic-like event on Golden West’s campus Sept. 19 .

The event will bring together about 25 local restaurants, including Cucina Alessa, Don Ramon’s Mexican Restaurant, La Brique Steak House, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant and Mangiamo Gelato Caffee, to whip up samples of their tastiest fares, in sample sizes, for patrons to nibble on. The Main Street Wine Co., Poverello Coffee, PRP Wine International and Samuel Adams will also be serving drinks.

“Everything is free once you get through the door,” said Anne Gillespie, one of the event coordinators.

The Beach Pit BBQ regularly draws in one of the biggest crowds of the event, officials said. The restaurant starts cooking about two hours before the event, filling the area with the smell of barbecue, said Margie Bunten, spokeswoman for Golden West.

“By the time you enter all you smell is tri-tip grilling,” she said.

The event is in the student center and on a grassy area where residents can lounge on beach towels set under trees or eat at tables and listen to live jazz music while they eat, officials said.

“It’s almost a picnic kind of feel,” Gillespie said.

Although beer and wine will be served, it is a family-friendly event. Children younger than 12 get in for free and can take part in face painting, a magic show, balloon art, or check out a mobile video games trailer, the Game Squad, that has Xbox and Wii.

“We really felt we wanted to be a family event people can afford,” Bunten said.

The event is raising money for scholarships for Golden West students and future college students at the local high schools. One scholarship will be presented that night to a well-rounded alum who moved on to higher education and the others will be presented in May at the college’s Scholarship and Awards Night.

“You really are giving back to something that makes a difference,” Bunten said.

Although community college is the best value when it comes to college, students are still in need of help to cover the costs of tuition and books, Bunten said. This year, students just don’t have the money, she said.

“We are very much in need of scholarships at Golden West College,” she said.

Officials are expecting about 500 residents to attend and hope to raise about $20,000.

There will be an opportunity drawing, silent auction and $20 grab bags, including one with a $100 bill, said Eugenia Haney, one of the event coordinators.

“We have a great theater basket, art basket and music basket,” she said. “People have been very generous this year.”

If You Go

What: Chefs for Scholarships

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 19

Where: Golden West College at 15744 Golden West St.

Cost: $40 a person, $20 for students with identification. Children younger than 12 admitted for free.

Information: Buy tickets at https://www.chefs4scholarships.com or (714) 895-8316. Tickets can also be bought the day of the event.