One of the many fringe benefits of having the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Benton Harbor is the thousands of people who get to experience, for the first time, the many treasures of Southwest Michigan. Included in that display is the delightful mix of culinary geniuses from near and far who expose us to their latest food creations.
The KitchenAid team has unveiled the slew of celebrity chefs and local talent who will be headlining the 2024 event, including some names you might recognize, and others we value so much, we appreciate having them in our own backyard.
See below for the chefs who will be featured at the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship taking place at Harbor Shores over Memorial Day Weekend, and make plans to visit the KitchenAid Fairway Club, the centerpiece of the fan experience at the Championship. There you will find interactive cooking displays and product demonstrations, smoothie and shave ice making, espresso tastings and captivating demonstrations by renowned chefs and home designers.
Among the celebrities we are proud to call West Michigan’s own is Abra Berens of Granor Farm. She’s made a name for herself nationally as an award winning and best selling cookbook author. She also brings a world-view approach to her cooking that encourages creativity as well as sustainability. We had a chance to talk with Abra back in 2023 about her third cookbook titled Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking With Fruit and are excited to learn she’s one of the featured chefs for this year’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship event. Here’s a clip from the previous interview where Abra talks about how she started in the culinary industry.
Others in this year’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship celebrity chef lineup (as provided by the KitchenAid team):
This year’s star-studded lineup will be led by renowned Chef Christopher Covelli and his protegé Chef Brett Wagner. Chef Covelli, having been featured as the resident celebrity chef talent every year of the KitchenAid sponsorship, has been seen on several Food Network shows including “Alex versus America,” and “Beat Bobby Flay.” Covelli is currently the Head Executive Chef and Co-owner of Realm Restaurant Group in Sarasota, FL. Wagner is the Co-Executive Chef for Realm Restaurants and is regularly featured on television and in magazines. Both chefs will appear all week to wow guests with their incredible cooking skills and culinary advice.
The dynamic Chef Alex Guarnaschelli will showcase her cooking skills on Thursday, May 23. Guarnaschelli is recognized as one of America’s most accomplished top chefs, acclaimed for her work in the kitchen, as an author and as a popular television personality. Guarnaschelli is a mother, chef, TV host and native New Yorker. In addition to appearing on various Food Network shows like “Iron Chef America,” “Chopped,” “Supermarket Stakeout” and “The Kitchen,” Alex has a New-American restaurant, “Butter,” in midtown Manhattan, that has been popular for 20 years. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli will be signing copies of her cookbook after her demonstration at the Championship.
On Friday, May 24, famed Chef Carla Hall will take the stage, sharing her favorite recipes and her philosophy to ‘always cook with love.’ Carla Hall first won audiences when she competed on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef: All Stars.” Carla spent seven years co-hosting ABC’s Emmy award-winning lifestyle series “The Chew,” and she is currently featured on MAX as the host of “Chasing Flavor” and on the Food Network in the “Summer, Halloween and Holiday Baking Championships.” Her latest cookbook, “Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration” landed on annual best cookbook lists across the country and received a NAACP Image Awards nomination. Chef Carla Hall will also be signing copies of her book after her demonstration at the Championship.
Those looking for kitchen and home design inspiration won’t want to miss Jasmine Roth’s demonstration and Q&A session on Saturday, May 25. Jasmine Roth is the founder of Built Custom Homes, curator of the online retail store The Shop by Jasmine Roth and host of HGTV’s hit shows “Hidden Potential” and “HELP! I Wrecked My House.” She was also on HGTV’s “Rock the Block Season 1.” Building custom homes is her bread and butter, and she loves finding ways to make homes as personal, functional and beautiful as possible. At the Championship, she will share her personal tips and answer questions on customizing your kitchen.
This year’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will feature more local talent than ever before, including talented chefs, baristas and experts from across Michigan who will be showcasing their secrets.
The master schedule is as follows:
Thursday, May 23
• 11 a.m. – Brian Maynard, the visionary owner of Forté Coffee, will bring his knowledge and love of all things coffee to his exciting espresso demonstration, sharing his secrets for brewing the perfect cup.
• 1 p.m. – Celebrity Chef Demonstration from Chef Alex Guarneschelli
• 2:30 p.m. – Elton Mann, Executive Chef at Plank’s Tavern, the restaurant for the Inn at Harbor Shores
Friday, May 24
• 11 a.m. – Chef Nate Brown‘s rise from cooking demonstrations to hosting his own TV show underscored his passion for flavorful cuisine and culinary excellence. With notable collaborations with Wolfgang Puck and VIP clientele like Kanye West and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, his dedication to healthy eating initiatives shines through, as seen in his efforts to educate youth about nutrition and wellness through urban gardening and cooking classes.
• 1 p.m. – Celebrity Chef Demonstration from Chef Carla Hall
• 2:30 p.m. – Chef Justin Paruszkiewicz, a recent winner of “Guy’s Grocery Games,” brings a wealth of experience to his demonstration. Justin honed his skills at esteemed establishments like Gibsons Restaurant Group, culminating in his current role as Executive Chef at Sister Lakes Brewing Company and owner of The Chef’s House private dining service.
Saturday, May 25
• 1 p.m. – Celebrity Design Demonstration by Jasmine Roth
• 2:30 p.m. – Cheyenne Galbraith, the creative force behind Houndstooth, is not simply a chef; she is a culinary storyteller. Known for transforming familiar ingredients into culinary adventures, she marries influences from her childhood to her extensive travels.
• 3:30 p.m. – Cheese lovers won’t want to miss the demonstration from Deb Sailor, fondly known as “The Cheese Lady.” She swiftly became the beloved cheese vendor in The Market in Saint Joseph, sharing her passion for cheese that transports people to cherished moments and places.
Sunday, May 26
• 11 a.m. – Closing out the weekend, Chef Abra Berens, the founder and head chef of Granor Farm, will bring her passion for seasonal and locally sourced ingredients to the KitchenAid Fairway Club.
For more information and tickets, visit https://www.srpgachampionship.com/.
