Celebrity chefs bring heart healthy tips to the Bay Area
[http://faithinthebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/chef_jeff_henderson.jpg]The American Heart Association (AHA) is ‘On Fire!’ with its Celebrity Chef Healthy Community Cooking events. With the success of its first event last November with Chef Tre Wilcox, this year the AHA is teaming up with Kaise
The second event, supported again by Kaiser, will be held in Oakland with Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr from the Food Network’s Big Daddy’s House on November 14.
Both of these chefs have become widely popular in their own right. Chef Jeff tells his compelling story in his New York Times bestselling book “Cooked” while Aaron is receiving rave reviews on his new show now in its second season.
The celebrity chef cooking series is a part of the AHA’s Power To End Stroke campaign initiative in the Bay Area to increase the awareness among African-Americans about stroke. The campaign, which started in 2005, began in response to research showing that African-Americans are twice as likely as white American to have a first stroke. Stroke is the #3 cause of death in America and #1 cause of long term disability.
“We’re so excited to have them come to the Bay Area,” states Vicki Williams, Director of African American Cultural Health Initiatives. “With increased incidents of stroke and cardiovascular disease impacting African Americans at disproportionate rates, it’s important to do all we can to help inform our community and partner with them as they make strides to eat heart healthy and become physically active. What we have found to be extremely helpful is to show people how to do it in addition to telling them,” says Williams.
Ambassador for the American Heart Association and nutritionist Pamela Casey Aziz says, “Many people associate eating healthy with food that is tasteless and boring. The chefs will use their skills to create dishes that are eye appealing, flavorful and good for you, too.“ “That’s a perfect combination!”
Etiquette coach Tina Hayes will be on hand to share the dos and don’ts when dining. National radio personality Miranda Wilson will be our mistress of ceremonies.
Chef Jeff will make a special appearance on Friday, September 18 at 6 pm at the East Oakland Youth Development Center located at 8200 International Blvd. This event is free and open to the community.
Mark you calendars to join us September 19, at the Pittsburg Senior Center for the Chef Jeff event. Or if you can’t make it then, we will be at Beebe Memorial Church in Oakland on November 14 with Chef Aaron. The cost for each event is $5 per person and the space is limited.
Both dates are sure to be packed with exciting tips, to assist you when cooking. These are events you won’t want to miss! For more information about the Power To End Stroke campaign or to register for the cooking events, visit us at www.bayareapower.org or call 510.904.4000.
