Cowboy Ciao hosts fundraiser with all-star lineup

• More than a dozen of metro Phoenix%27s most acclaimed chefs will come together to serve a five-course dinner paired with wine and cocktails.

More than a dozen of metro Phoenix's most acclaimed chefs will come together to serve a five-course dinner paired with wine and cocktails on Friday, August 22 at Cowboy Ciao in Scottsdale.

Among the kitchen wizards scheduled to participate are: Bernie Kantak (Citizen Public House and the Gladly), Keenan Bosworth (Pig & Pickle), Gio Osso (Virtu), Nobuo Fukuda (Nobuo at Teeter House), Tracy Dempsey (Tracy Dempsey Originals), German Sega (Roka Akor), Lester Gonzalez and pastry chef Country Velador (both currently at Cowboy Ciao).

Part of the dinner's proceeds will benefit UMOM, which is one of the state's largest homeless shelters and one that especially serves families.

About eight years ago, UMOM started a food-service training program and catering business to give trainees experience in a commercial kitchen. Residents at the shelters who are in the program learn how to prep and cut vegetables, grill meat and bake bread. The salads, sandwiches and sides are then served at business luncheons and religious functions. After their training, graduates are given job opportunities with restaurants that work with UMOM, hopefully breaking the cycle of homelessness.

A 6 p.m. reception will precede the dinner, which requires reservations.

Details: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. Cowboy Ciao, 7133 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. $125 per person. 480-946-3111, cowboyciao.com, umom.org.