Celebrity Chefs Cat Cora and Carla Hall Return to the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give continues to enhance its three-day food tasting event — the Grand Taste – with food demonstrations by celebrity chefs Cat Cora and Carla Hall.

Both celebrity chefs have participated in previous Meijer LPGA Classic events, Tournament Director Cathy Cooper said.

“The Grand Taste at the Meijer LPGA Classic is the greatest food experience on tour, and we are very excited to bring Cat Cora and Carla Hall back for another fun year,” Cooper said. “Our tournament truly offers something for everyone, so being able to highlight the talent of these amazing chefs, along with the best restaurants and breweries that West Michigan has to offer, will make it an experience the community won’t want to miss.”

Cooper said all Grand Taste ticket holders will have access to the chef demonstrations, and therefore, won’t need to purchase an additional ticket.

After participating in the 2014 Meijer LPGA Classic, Cat Cora, the first female Iron Chef on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America, will return on Saturday, June 17 to the Grand Taste tent to share a few of her favorite recipes.

• Cora is a world renowned chef best known for her featured role as an “Iron Chef” on Food Network’s Iron Chef America and as a co-host of Bravo’s Around the World in 80 Plates. Cora makes regular appearances on a variety of talk shows and has hosted and guest judged a number of food shows, including Bravo’s Top Chef, Food Network’s Iron Chef America and Cutthroat Kitchen. She has opened numerous restaurants, including Cat Cora’s Taproom that is located in the Detroit Metro Airport.

Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s The Chew, will make her third appearance at the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday, June 18 at the Grand Taste tent for fun, interactive demos.

• Hall is a co-host of ABC’s popular lifestyle series, The Chew. Although she is best known as a competitor on Bravo’s Top Chef, where she won over audiences with her catch phrase, “Hootie Hoo,” and her philosophy to always cook with love. Hall’s Southern Kitchen — her first restaurant – opened in New York City in late 2015. A fast-casual love letter to Nashville, the restaurant features iconic Nashville Hot Chicken and southern sides, anchored by Hall’s family recipes and perfected with her personal touches.

In addition to the celebrity chefs, local restaurants, breweries and Meijer will also feature new food trends through demonstrations at the Grand Taste, Friday through Sunday.

The Grand Taste will be held June 16-18 during tournament week at Blythefield Country Club, and will feature more than 40 of West Michigan’s best restaurants and breweries.

The 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic will host a full field of 144 of the best women golfers for 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition. Proceeds from the tournament — and each of the week’s festivities – will once again benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest. To date, the Meijer LPGA Classic has generated more than $2.1 million for food pantries in the communities it serves.

For more information on the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give or to volunteer or purchase tickets, please visitmeijerLPGAclassic.com.