Saturday: Valley men to wear the aprons at TEAM dining event

The sixth annual TEAM "Men Who Cook" fund-raising event will return to the Valley on Saturday, April 20 from 6 to 11 p.m. at Warsaw Park in Ansonia. Participants can sample a wide variety of cuisine prepared by more than 70 “Valley guys” while helping the regional social service agency.

These apron-wearing chefs are not professional cooks, but are community minded individuals who enjoy the camaraderie of a great evening with friends and neighbors.

Wide variety of cuisine

What's on the menu? Go international with empanadas, porketta, chicken marsala, and unique pasta dishes. Like spice? Wings, barbecue and buffalo chicken await you.

If you prefer seafood, you can sample shrimp alfredo and seafood gumbo. Get your veggies in southwestern gazpacho, brushetta and other dishes.

There will be smoked turkey, the comfort of chicken pot pie, and sandwiches made with plantains and traditional sausage, peppers and onions. Remember to leave room for dessert, with freshly baked coconut cupcakes, cookies and other sweet treats.

Event specifics

Admission is $55 per person, which includes food, beer, wine and soft drinks, dancing to music, and the opportunity to bid in a silent auction.

The event’s MC will be Chaz of “Chaz and AJ in the Morning” on WPLR-FM. Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan is the event’s marquee sponsor.

Participating community chefs from a past TEAM “Men Who Cook” event.

To become a sponsor of “Men Who Cook” or to donate an auction item, call Trish Wigglesworth at 203-736-5420, ext. 221. To purchase tickets, call Wigglesworth or buy online at www.teaminc.org. All proceeds from the event will benefit programs provided by TEAM Inc., serving the needs of individuals and families living in the Valley.

Event chairmen are Charles Sullivan, David Grant and Jeff Westine.

Participating cooks so far

To date, the chefs who'll proudly wear the  “Men Who Cook” aprons are:

Anthony Agosto

Pastor Edward Barnes

Swindell Barnes

Jack Betkoski

Juan Bonilla

Ryan Boos

Harry Burlakoff

William Calderara

Patrick Carey

Chief Mike Chaffee

Patrick Charmel

Mike Cotela, Jr.

John Coscia

Dave Cribbins

State Sen. Joe Crisco

Bill DeRosa

Brian Fonck

Roger Giori

Bruce Goldson

Terri Goldson

Eric Granato

Douglas Hensal

Chris Hill

Dave Hill

Ron Holtz

Franklyn Hull

Chief Joel Hurliman

State Sen. Kevin Kelly

Mike Kieley

Tim Kieley

Richard Knoll

Joe Laucella

Jeff Merrill

Chief Michael Metzler

John Mihalko

First Selectman Kurt Miller

Ned Miller

James Mills

Michael Mills

Nelson Morales

David Morgan

Rick Moore

Robert Muoio

Bill Nimons

Jack O'Donnell

Tim Oppel

Win Oppel

Fred Ortoli

Steve Overby

Joe Pagliaro Jr.

Dave Pendagast

State Rep. Jason Perillo

Rick Ponce DeLeone

Jim Queen

Dave Rabinove

Johnathan Rodriguez

John Rollinson

Joshua Rosado

Chris Sansone

Carlo Sarmiento

Adam Sevelowitz

Anthony Simonetti

Kevin Spooner

Thomas Steeves

Nicholas Tarasovic Jr.

Nicholas Tarasovic Sr.

Dominick Thomas

Ben Trabka

Robert VanEgghen

Hector Velez

Blake Williams

Stuart Williams

John Yeager

John Zaprzalka

Tom Zaprzalka

About Team Inc.

TEAM Inc. is a private, nonprofit, anti-poverty agency that serves Shelton and nine nearby communities. The Derby-based organization’s goal is to address the needs of economically disadvantaged individuals and families through resource mobilization, education, advocacy and service delivery.

Specific services include early education, elderly services, home heating assistance, housing assistance, economic literacy and asset building, and community and neighborhood services.