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Volume 13, Issue 12
Brandon/Winthrop Edition
Chef Gaston Merideth To Be Honored By Black Chef's Association
Brandon Academy Students Reach Out To Serve The Community
Local Brandon resiin Wedding Wire and dent, Gaston Merideth number one in Tampa or Chef Gaston as he is Bay by Thumbtack," better known, will be a said Chef Gaston. recipient of the 2nd Gaston's Culinary Annual National Black Service recently did the Chef's Association's Craft Service for the 2019 Chef's Awards. filming of Bernie The Chef Gaston will be Dolphin, a movie that honored with the award was filmed here in the this February in Tampa Bay Area and Philadelphia. released this month. Chef Gaston will be In addition, recognized along with Chef Gaston other great chefs such Brandon resident, has developed Chef Gaston as New Orleans' legend Chef G's Merideth, will be Leah Chase of Dooky Florida honored at the Chase Restaurant. Barbecue Second Annual National Black Chef Chase is known Sauce which is Association's 2019 Chef's as the Queen of Creole Chef's sold locally at Chuck's Award in Philadelphia this Cuisine. February. Chef Gaston has been Natural Fields Market in Chef Chanda Clark creating delectable culinary dishes Brandon. for a quarter of a century. of Sweetie Pie's and Chef Gaston has Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network will also been cooking for 25 years. He served in be recognized along with multiple other the Coast Guard as a chef. He has chefs from around the country. served as an instructor of Culinary Arts at When asked what he thought when Manatee Technical College. He has also he learned he would be recognized, Chef cooked on live local television. This well Gaston said, "Finally, I have a chance to rounded chef is truly deserving of his get a personal award." Chef Gaston award. added, "My companies have received Chef Gaston's love of food and cooknumerous awards and recognitions, but I ing is evident. He said, "When you cook have never received an individual award." for a crowd, you are not only serving your Chef Gaston owns and operates client, but you are serving your client's Gaston's Culinary Services which is an clients. You get instant gratification and offsite catering business. They can cater praise when your food is good and liked." small, intimate and elegant affairs or large For more information on Chef Gaston events with up to 1300 people. "We have and Gaston's Culinary Services, please been ranked number seven by Tampa visit www.gastonculinaryservices.com or Bay Business Journal two times, top five www.flbbqsauce.com.
Brandon Academy thy,” said Dominick Students from grades K-12 Giombetti, upper school are reaching out to serve principal at Brandon those in need in the surAcademy. rounding community. In November, stuDuring the first nine weeks dents raised funds and of the school year, various gathered food for classes from K-5 have visitThanksgiving baskets for ed the elderly at Consulate students of families who Assisted Living, a long attend Trapnell standing tradition. Students Elementary School in perform songs, assist with Students visit with patients at Plant City. The Student Consulate Assisted Living, a crafts, read stories they Council donated $100 long standing tradition for have written as well as visit Brandon Academy students. from the proceeds from its with patients. “I often tell my students this recent Spookfest, 8th grade students sold quote from Audrey Hepburn, who said, Spookygrams and raised $238, grades K‘You have two hands…one to help your5 gathered shelf stable nutritious food self and the second to help others,’” said items for baskets and Brandon Sondra Cliggitt, lower school principal at Academy’s community partner, Winn Brandon Academy. Dixie, donated $250 toward this project. The upper grades (6-12) serve variThe combined efforts served over 31 ous groups during three scheduled families this Thanksgiving. “Serving famiScorpion Days. During the first one, the lies in need is important to me. Everyone 6th graders prepared 100 lunch bags for deserves food, especially a nice meal the homeless in conjunction with THORN around the holidays,“ said Sean Burns, Ministries. Regional Manager of Winn Dixie in 7th grade students participated in a Valrico. cleanup of Limona Park, and 8th graders December is the time when Brandon went to the Hillsborough County Pet Academy students become Scorpion Resource Center. Students from grades Angels for adults with physical and/or 9-12 spent time working at Feeding mental disabilities who either live in group Tampa Bay. homes or are monitored by Dream “Part of my mission for my students Support. This will be the fifth year that the is to create opportunities to serve others. school’s students have served these While we are developing strong minds, clients who are generally forgotten during we are also exposing our students to the holidays. areas of need not only within our commuBrandon Academy is located at 801 nity but also within our world. Today’s Limona Dr. It serves pre-K 3 through children will be tomorrow’s leaders and 12th grades. For information, call 689the most successful leaders have empa1952 or info@brandon-academy.com.
By Kathy L. Collins
Staff Report
Expires 1/31/19
