Amanda Nelson Varnell
The Performing Arts League is hosting Bon Appetit: A Culinary Evening at Home, a virtual fundraiser to benefit PAL’s ongoing work supporting youth involvement in the performing arts. Taking place on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m., the event features a three-course gourmet menu and wine pairing that participants will prepare under the expert guidance of award-winning chef, Amanda Nelson Varnell.
Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the PAL website: https://www.palchattanooga.org/bon-appetit.html.
Patricia Daniel, chair of the culinary fundraiser, said, “’We have created an entertaining and educational evening with award-winning caterer and family dinner table specialist, Amanda Nelson Varnell. Using her foodlove philosophy and her signature warm and engaging manner, Amanda will teach and demonstrate insider tricks for making delicious and beautiful culinary creations, while the participants prepare a delectable dinner along with her. We are also delighted that Brian Leutwiler of Imbibe has selected a special wine pairing to accompany our gourmet meal.
"PAL’s Bon Appétit: A Culinary Evening at Home will raise funds to support our mission of offering individual scholarships for talented, deserving young performers as well as grants to arts organizations with programs that offer opportunities for these young people in the Chattanooga area. For the past 10 years, PAL has enhanced the lives of young performers by providing funds for private instrumental music lessons, attendance at summer dance institutes, and tuition to participate in choral intensives and youth theater workshops.”
The Performing Arts League is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting youth involvement in the performing arts throughout Chattanooga and the surrounding area. In 2011, a group of fifteen people met to explore organizing a nonprofit corporation to benefit youth in the disciplines of theater, dance, and vocal and instrumental music. This resulted in formation of the Performing Arts League, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote youth involvement in the performing arts. The Performing Arts League, Inc. has grown to over 60 members composed of women and men, including active professionals and retirees. Between 2014 and 2020, the Performing Arts League awarded over $150,000 in Scholarships and Grants to individuals and to support youth arts programs in the greater Chattanooga area.
Among the individuals and organizations who have received funds from the Performing Arts League are: Chattanooga Ballet, Chattanooga Theatre Centre (Youth Theatre), Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Youth Orchestras, Ballet Tennessee, Chattanooga Girls Choir, Chattanooga Boys Choir (Only Men Aloud), Chattanooga Clarinet Choir (Concerto Competition), The Howard School Band, String Theory, East Lake Expression Engine, Unity Performing Arts, Christian Family Theater, and the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga (Musical Playground).
For more information about the Performing Arts League and how to become a member, visit: https://www.palchattanooga.org/
Amanda Nelson Varnell