The Gables in Laurel was filled Tuesday evening, September 24 with people enjoying the first “Taste and See” event in this area which was a benefit for The Glory House and its community ministry.
“What better way to promote what we do than to have a food event,” exclaimed Grant Staples, who leads The Glory House ministry along with his wife Hope. He added, “This is our first ever fundraiser.”
The evening proved to be quiet a success. According to Staples, the event raised enough money to possibly complete the first floor renovations of the Bread of Life Center, The Glory House’s new food pantry located in the former Food Mission building.
Those attending the event were provided an opportunity to taste a sampling of dishes from 15 local restaurants and food vendors.
Three awards were handed out which were decided by the votes cast by those attending the event.
Laura Matthews, owner of The Gables, received the Best Presentation Award. Using ceramic pumpkins to hold up glass shelves, she presented a sampling of carrot soufflé and bacon tomato crostini.
Two Taster’s Choice Awards were given. John Diggets, owner of the Loft, received one Taster’s Choice Award with his prime rib drizzled with horseradish sauce, crawfish pasta, shrimp cocktail, and toasted parmesan bread. Micah Gatlin, owner of Lu’s Steakhouse and BBQ in Stringer, formerly Dean’s Smokehouse, received the second Taster’s Choice Award with her pulled pork and brisket topped with their house BBQ sauce and smoked mac and cheese.
Whitney Miller who won Season 1 of the TV reality show, Master Chefs, shared her experience on the show and her life since then. She also shared her recipe for Mississippi Mud Pie which was the dessert of the evening and was served to all the guests.
Miller said that for the final competition she had to prepare a three-course meal in two hours. Just as she was plating her meal, she dropped the piece of fried chicken. So, with only seven minutes to go she had no other choice but to fry another piece. She got it done just in time. Gordon Ramsey was one of the judges and didn’t believe it was cooked all the way through in such a short time. He cut the chicken in the thickest part of the piece and behold, it was perfectly cooked. Miller said with her buttermilk paned fried chicken, and prayer as the secret ingredient, she won Master Chefs and her life has not been the same since.
A live auction was held with auctioneer Johnny Wright barking out the bids. Items auctioned off included a handmade knife from the Philippines, a door from the old Food Mission building painted by local artist Mandy Buchanan, and a French Bulldog puppy named Jasper.
Giving the audience an idea of what The Glory House does, a video of the last four years of the many different activities the ministry offers was shown on two big screens while the song “You Thought I Was Worth Saving” played. The pictures included volunteers helping to restore the old house on 2nd Avenue that is now The Glory House; meals being served in Gardner Park across the street from the house; children involved in different activities; Baptism taking place in a metal horse trough on the front lawn of the house; food boxed and ready for distribution; and huge smiles on the faces of many children.
“What you saw is so much bigger than the two folks standing here,” said Staples referring to him and his wife, Hope.
“Every face in the video changed my life,” exclaimed Hope adding, “I see Jesus in them.”
According to the Staples, The Glory House ministry serves approximately 250 meals to the community each month, hands out approximately 150 bags of groceries each month, and during Christmas last year, they helped approximately 76 families and 255 children enjoy Christmas. Hope added that about 33 of the 76 families included grandparents raising grandchildren.
For more information and to make a donation go to www.thegloryhouse.org.