Runners, walkers and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages are invited to run wild on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the 4th Annual Gold Rush Fun Run on the El Dorado Trail in beautiful El Dorado County. Area nonprofit INALLIANCE is once again hosting the event that sends participants on a tour through the Sierra Nevada Foothills in 10 mile, 10K, 5K and 1 mile races along what used to be the Michigan California Lumber Company railway corridor, but now boasts lush vegetation and scenic vistas. Following the races, guests will enjoy a Finish Line Celebration featuring snacks, wine and hard cider sampling, music, raffle prizes, and awards ceremony. Races will be chip timed, and medals will be awa

By Kristy DeVaney It was such an honor to judge the Sacramento Chef Challenge Cupcake War. I have been involved with the Chef Challenge for the past 4 years--once as a vendor, and once as a competitor--and InAlliance is one of the best organizations in Sacramento. They are a nonprofit that supports the independence, health and safety of people with developmental disabilities. The winners from the Cupcake Challenge were 1st Place Stephanie Nuccitelli, 2nd Place Carlos Mares (Vanilla Bean Gourmet Cupcakes), and 3rd Place Jennifer Urias I was very impressed with Stephanie's implementation of root beer in the batter. It made the resulting cupcake light and airy. Her display was complete wi

The  annual Sacramento Chef Challenge is set to take place on June 23 and will be equal parts competition, culinary skill and for the first time, audience participation. The highlight of the evening will be two on-site competitions: the three-course Chef Challenge in which attendees can help decide whose cuisine reigns supreme and the Cake War. According to event organizer Jessica Bean, this is the first year in which guests, rather than a panel of judges, will be allowed to eat and vote on the Chef Challenge delicacies.   “I always hated the prom queen popularity contest idea, and I wanted to balance things out with guest votes,” Bean said. “In the past, we’ve had six or seven chefs co

On June 23, amateur bakers will be given the opportunity to compete in the Cake War: Battle Cupcakes competition at the 10th Annual Sacramento Chef Challenge. Three amateur competitors will go up against three professional cupcake masters in a three hour competition, in which participants create an original cupcake and display that will be adjudicated by event guests and a professional judging panel. To determine which three amateur bakers will get to compete live at the Sacramento Chef Challenge, Cakegrrl.com and INALLIANCE have come together for a video challenge. Candidates have been asked to show off their stuff in a 3-5 minute video that highlights “why you and your cupcakes are the

Everyday, millions of conversations take place across the country. Employers ask, teachers tell, and friends talk. Communication, it is said, is the key to success. For many people with developmental disabilities who cannot speak, the lack of basic communication is an ever present barrier in developing relationships, finding a job, being hired, or performing a job optimally. Other than a few exceptions, people who cannot talk do not work. An inability to effectively communicate with peers, employers and support staff most often leads to stereotyping, social rejection and failure in the workplace. Frustration caused by an inability to express basic needs becomes a “behavior problem” to be f

Six chefs. Five secret ingredients. Three dishes. Forty-five minutes. While hundreds watch. That's what's happening Friday when the Celebrity Chef Challenge by InAlliance takes place in Sacramento. Half a dozen local chefs will compete in this Iron Chef-style cook-off that raises money to help people with developmental disabilities. The nonprofit's ninth annual chef challenge will be much more spontaneous than other types of cooking contests because no one will know what the secret ingredients are until minutes before the event begins. The chefs are planning to have a good time in this friendly competition. "It's going to be fun," said Evan's Kitchen owner Evan Elsberry. "We're going to

 “Whose cuisine reigned supreme?” All of the contenders in the 8th annual Celebrity Chef Challenge brought their ‘A’ game and amazed the judges and crowd with their culinary talent. Judges , 2009 challenge winner, Adam Pehal, Regional Vice President Wells Fargo Foundation, Chevo Ramierez, Sacdine.com food and wine blogger, Charlotte King, and News 10’s Bryan May, sat with satisfaction on their faces as they were served succulent dish after dish. “The judges reactions are like little kids at Christmas,” said Sacramento and Company’s Melissa Crowley, emcee for the night. “Oh my gosh, it’s amazing. I love watching the chefs brainstorm.” Hundreds of people came out to the California Auto M

Things are heating up. The 8th annual Celebrity Chef Challenge, taking place on April 30 at the California Auto Museum, is equipped with six new contenders that will have 45 minutes to create three culinary masterpieces out of five secret ingredients. Guests will have front row seats to the competition and free range to all of the goodies including free samples from 100 food and wine vendors, a tour of the hot rod car show and a cake creation demo provided by Crazy Cake Company. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to InAlliance, a nonprofit foundation providing employment placement and life and work skills training to people with disabilities. According to Jessica Bean, public

 On April 30th the InAlliance, a local non-profit serving the developmentally disabled, is holding its 8th Annual Celebrity Chef Challenge.  The event is a no-holds-barred, Iron Chef-esque competition of the best known Sacramento area chefs and restaurants.  While looking over the list of entrants there was a single standout competitor: Cakegrrl.  While the name might sound more like an online identity than a chef, Cakegrrl is no stranger to the Sacramento food scene.  When she visited Sacramento for a single day in 2003, it was love at first sight, and since moving here in 2004 Cakegrrl (also known as Kristy Devaney) has been a big hit both online and off.  A chronic blogger who posts re