Bring your appetite to 38th annual Celebrity Chef event

A gala smorgasbord coming from many people in Auburn and Placer County will be available on Thursday, March 13. The Auburn 49er Lions Club will hold its 38th annual Celebrity Chef event inside the Placer Building at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30. The event will feature chefs volunteering and preparing their favorite entrées, side dishes and desserts. "It's all you can eat," said Dave Johnson, a member of the Auburn 49er Lions Club since 2011 and event chairman. "You just keep going around the room. … It's a great buffet." The event will benefit the Auburn 49er Lions Club Community Fund and assist in providing glasses and hearing aids to people in need. Used eyeglasses and hearing aid donations are also being accepted at ticket sale locations and at the event. "It's our primary fundraiser," Johnson said. Johnson said people who purchase tickets can walk around and try the different dishes. "Some years, there would be three people at a table," Johnson said. "The last few years, it's been two to a table." Johnson said as of Friday, there were 50 celebrity chefs who plan to participate. There were around 60 chefs in 2024. "And, hoping to get a few more," Johnson said. "We have a lot of people (who) look forward to being a chef each year." Some local celebrity chefs will have soups and salads on display for people to sample. Johnson will have his broccoli salad, which he's been showing in recent years. And Auburn City Manager Sean Rabé will have his smoked tri-tip for people to eat. Mod Pizza and Old Town Pizza of Auburn plan to showcase their foods. "We'll have Mexican food, Italian food," Johnson said. Celebrity Chefs returned in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Sugar Plump Fairies will be present in helping to raffle various prizes. "They are out collecting raffle prizes for us," Johnson said. "We make a lot of money just off the raffle." The 49er Lions will sell beer and wine, and will have coffee, punch, sodas and water. "We're working on getting more young folks there," Johnson said, noting it's a kid-friendly event. "The kids are real sure about trying some of this (dishes)," Johnson said. "It's just a fun thing." Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the Assistance League of Greater Placer Thrift Shop, located at 1263 Grass Valley Highway. Its phone number is 530-885-1982. Money for the tickets will go toward repairing used eyeglasses and hearing aids. Golden Swann Jewelers is the second location at 881 Lincoln Way in Auburn. Its phone number is 530-823-7739. Those wanting to take part in Celebrity Chef can contact Johnson at 916-207-5466 or email at dave@trustdavejohnson.com. Below is the list of chefs competing as of Friday morning: Applegate Civic Center Club, Assistance League of Greater Placer, Auburn American Legion Post 84, Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce, Auburn Area Democratic Club, Auburn Police Department, Auburn Recreation District, Auburn Senior Center, Auburn State Theatre, Auburn Trophies, Black Bear Diner, Brookdale Senior Living, Carol's Market, David Johnson, Delta Lending Group, Echo Valley Ranch, Foresthill Independent Order Of Oddfellows Lodge 73, Friends of the Auburn Library, Gail and Tom Stout, Gold County BBQ Co., Gold Country Fairgrounds and Event Center, Gold Country Pro Rodeo, Healing Pastures at C-Horse Ranch, Jim Holmes, League of Women Voters of Placer County, Lion Donna Prince, Maki Heating and Air, Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club, Meadow Vista Lions Club, City Councilman Mike Holmes, MOD Pizza, Old Town Pizza, Placer County Farm Bureau, Roeder Family Services, Roper's Jewelers, Sean Rabé, Sight Word Busters, Silver Screen Classic Movies, Slade Mechanical, Slade Notary, Soroptimist International of Auburn, Sugar Plump Fairies, Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, William Witzke Allstate Insurance, Women in Network.