Camarillo, CA – The Yummie Top Chef Dinner, presented by Pacific Western Bank, will take place on Friday evening, June 5th, as Casa Pacifica prepares California State University Channel Island’s beautiful south quad for its annual Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival on Sunday, June 7th. For the second year the Cassar Family will host the behind-the-scenes dinner and will be joined by sponsors Wells Fargo, Procter & Gamble, and Premier Event Productions in kicking-off the Wine, Food & Brew Festival weekend. The fabulous dinner will be set in the Festival’s VIP Lounge Tent and will bring together several of the region’s top chefs – all of whom happen to be former Yummie culinary competition winners from previous Festivals – to present an incomparable nine-course feast to 200 fortunate guests. Each of the courses will be specially paired with local winemaker’s best selections. One course will feature the winning handcrafted ale from the “Best in Fest” brew competition taking place one-month prior to the Festival; the winning brew will be prominently promoted the day of the Festival.

In addition to the sumptuous dinner, guests will enjoy live music and be treated to a special just-for-the-event cocktail stirred up by Twenty88 Restaurant & Bar mixologist, Scott Holder. As was the case last year, the highlight of the evening will be when each of the Yummie Top Chef Dinner chefs come out to share about their recipe for the course being served, along with some professional techniques.

Expert culinary master chefs (and their current affiliations) who will be participating include: Three-time Yummie winner Chef Nic Manocchio of University Glen Corporation at California State University Channel Islands; two-time winner Chef Gabe Garcia of Tierra Sur Restaurant; two-time winner Chef Ernie Borjas of The Yacht Club of Channel Islands Harbor; Chef Jason Collis of Plated Events by Chef Jason (who also caters the VIP Lounge the day of the Festival); and Chef Rachel Main Holst of Main Course California, Inc. A trio of delicious desserts will be provided by former Yummie Sweet category winners Barry Davis, owner of Scoops in Camarillo; Alison Davis, owner of The Sugar Lab; and Yvonne Drayton-Benado, owner of Missy’s Cupcake Creations. Wineries joining in on the festivities (to-date) include Cantara Cellars, Fess Parker Winery, Herzog Winery, Rancho Ventavo Cellars, and Ferrari Carano. In addition, The Cappuccino Express will offer its own delicious taste to the evening as well.

If you would like to be a part of this one-of-a-kind extraordinary experience, tickets are on sale for $200 per person, or guests may become a table sponsor for $2,000 which includes seating for eight and recognition in the dinner program and advertising (time sensitive restrictions allowing). Guests will be seated long-table, family-style and dinner guests must be 21 years of age and older; seating is limited. For more information about the Yummie Top Chef Dinner or to purchase tickets, please contact Amber Landis Stover, Casa Pacifica’s Development Manager at (805) 366-4021. All proceeds from the Yummie Top Chef Dinner will support Casa Pacifica’s programs serving vulnerable children and families.

The Wine, Food & Brew Festival itself will take place on Sunday, June 7th, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at California State University Channel Islands and will feature more than 85 restaurants and 150 wines, brews, and beverages. Live entertainment, an extensive silent auction, and the Yummie culinary competition will round out the exciting events of the day. The Festival is still welcoming sponsors, so it’s not too late to sign up and connect your name or business with this "Can't Miss" event by taking advantage of some great sponsorship opportunities! For sponsorship information, contact Casa Pacifica Event Coordinator, Juliana Thiessen at (805) 366-4014, jthiessen@casapacifica.org or visit the Festival sponsor page at www.cpwinefoodbrewfest.com.

Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families is a crisis-care and residential treatment facility for abused, neglected, or at-risk children in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children’s mental health services in both counties and administers a number of community-based programs which are designed with the intent to strengthen families and keep children in their homes. For more information about Casa Pacifica visit its website www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at (805) 445-7800.