Naples Wild Oats Donates $10,000 to Local Charities During Grand Opening Preview Party

  
    
  
  
    
      The newly opened Naples Wild Oats Marketplace, a leading national 
      natural and organic foods retailer, today announced it will donate 
      $10,000 to three Naples non-profit organizations. The Harry Chapin Food 
      Bank, the Naples Cancer Alliance and the von Liebig Art Center will each 
      receive a portion of this donation from Wild Oats as part of their 
      involvement with the “Wild Chef Cook-Off,” 
      a friendly culinary competition that took place during the Naples Wild 
      Oats Grand Opening Preview Party on Jan. 23.
    
    
      During the “Wild Chef Cook-Off,” 
      three highly acclaimed local chefs, Ralph Feraco, of the Naples 
      Sailing and Yacht Club, Claudio Ferrer, Culinary Instructor at 
      Palmetto Ridge High School and Frank Setera, Culinary Instructor 
      at Gulf Coast High School, prepared three gourmet dishes using fresh, 
      locally caught Lane Snapper and locally grown organic citrus fruits. At 
      the end of the competition, the chefs’ 
      creations were rated by area celebrity judges on taste, flavor, 
      creativity, presentation and restaurant worthiness.
    
    
      Chef Claudio Ferrer took home first place in the “Wild 
      Chef Cook-Off” and prepared the following 
      three courses - grilled filet of gingered snapper and Asian slaw served 
      in a rice paper cup; marinated asparagus and arugula salad with citrus 
      bacon dressing; and a timbale of wild brown rice and blueberries served 
      with chai tea soy chocolate sauce. Chef Ferrer partnered with the Cancer 
      Alliance of Naples during the cook-off and the organization will receive 
      $5,000 for the chef’s top prize. The Cancer 
      Alliance of Naples provides cancer survivors with healing resources that 
      augment the medical care they receive.
    
    
      Chef Ralph Feraco and Chef Frank Setera also impressed the judges with 
      their unique culinary creations made from all-natural and organic 
      ingredients from Wild Oats. Chef Feraco partnered with the von Liebig 
      Art Center, which will receive a $2,500 donation from the event. The 
      mission of the von Liebig Art Center is to promote and advance 
      education, interest and participation in the contemporary visual arts.
    
    
      Chef Frank Setera’s charity partner was the 
      Harry Chapin Food Bank, which will also receive a $2,500 donation from 
      Wild Oats. The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida helps 
      citizens overcome hunger through education and by working in a 
      cooperative effort with affiliated agencies in the procurement and 
      distribution of food.
    
    
      The judges of the “Wild Chef Cook-Off” 
      included – Doris Reynolds, food 
      columnist, editorial consultant and local historian; Karen Feldman, 
      former restaurant critic of the Ft. Myers News-Press and 
      currently with the Florida Gulf Coast University’s 
      (FGCU) quarterly newspaper, Vision; and Amy Wegmann, Fox 4 
      Rising News Anchor.
    
    
      About Wild Oats
    
    
      Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic 
      foods markets in the U.S. and Canada with annual sales of more than $1.1 
      billion. The Company operates 110 natural foods stores in 24 states and 
      British Columbia, Canada. The Company’s 
      markets include: Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Henry’s 
      Farmers Market, Sun Harvest and Capers Community Markets. For more 
      information, please visit www.wildoats.com.
    
    
      To obtain complete recipes from the “Wild 
      Chef Cook-Off” or for additional information, 
      please contact: Heather Musselman, 303-579-2350.