Charity Cocktail Competition Debuts at Detroit’s Lady of the House

Chef Kate Williams inspires local chefs to get behind the bar in support of nonprofit organizations
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cocktail competition
Chef Kate Williams enjoys a cocktail at Lady of the House. // Photograph courtesy of Brittany Greeson

Chef Kate Williams, of Lady of the House, is throwing down the gauntlet to local chefs. Can they create behind the bar as well as in the kitchen?

Williams is the magic behind the Corktown restaurant as well as two new additions to the city’s food scene: Karl’s, an all-day restaurant inside the Siren Hotel, and Candy Bar, the hotel’s classic cocktail lounge. Now she’s the heart behind Cheftail, a charity cocktail competition to be held at Lady of the House from 6-10 p.m. on June 24.

“We really wanted to create an event that got chefs/friends together and off the line for a night,” Williams says. “We thought it would be fun to flip to the other side of the restaurant while getting to support and highlight causes that are near and dear to each of us.”

Eight chefs will compete alongside Williams for the prize. Contestants include Luciano DelSignore of Bacco Ristorante in Southfield, the multi-location Bigalora, and the much-anticipated Birmingham restaurant Pernoi. April Anderson of Northwest Detroit-based Good Cakes and Bakes, Brad Greenhill of Corktown’s Takoi, and Gabby Milton of Beacon Park-based Lumen will also compete. Each chef will create a drink that competes for first, second, third, and people’s choice monetary prizes for their selected charity. The people’s choice award goes to the most popular drink creation of the evening.

Williams will compete to raise funds for Alternative for Girls, a southwest Detroit-based nonprofit that provides shelter, mentoring, and outreach to homeless and high-risk young women. She regularly volunteers with the organization.

Local cocktail content creator and Hour Detroit contributor Nick Britsky will host the evening. Detroit judges include Dave Kwiatkowski, owner of Sugar House and Bad Luck Bar. Tickets, which cover entry to the event, can be purchased through eventbrite.com. Cocktails and food from Big Boy’s Burgers and Shakes can be purchased for an additional cost. Proceeds will contribute to the charity cash prizes for the competition’s winners.


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