Sonora, CA…“A Taste for Mentoring” is a dessert contest showcasing creations from our county’s finest restaurants as a fund raiser for the Mentoring Works program. Mentoring Works matches caring adults in our community with at risk children under the guidance of the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency. “A Taste for Mentoring” Dessert Contest and Antique Auto Show will be held Sunday, April 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge at 100 Elks Drive off of Shaws Flat Road in Sonora. Admission is $20 per person.

Restaurants participating in the dessert competition are Columbia Kate’s Bakery, Country Faire, Pinocchio’s, Pine Tree Restaurant at Sonora Oaks, Seven Sisters at Black Oak Casino, and more fun treats.
The desserts will be tasted and rated by a panel of judges. There will also be an opportunity for those in attendance to vote for a “People’s Choice.”

Serving on this year’s Judging Panel are Marcia VanSwoll, Jake Lewis and Elisabeth Watkins. Marcia VanSwoll founded Gold Rush Gourmet Personal Chef Services and also served as a mentor with Mentoring Works. Jake Lewis is the Technology Specialist at Tuolumne County Office of Education and is also a trained chef having worked in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Calaveras County restaurants.

Our celebrity chef this year is Elisabeth Watkins, winner of the Food Network’s 2015 “Chopped Junior” television competition. Watkins is a 14-year-old 9th grade student from Linden in San Joaquin County. Watkins also was part of the team that won the Chef Throw Down at the California State Fair three years in a row.

Those in attendance can enjoy live music from Blue Shoes and the Auxiliary Ukulele Orchestra. Guests can win one of the delicious cakes donated by Tuolumne County vendors in a traditional cake walk held throughout the event.
Safari Smiles Dental is sponsoring a table of sugar free treat at the event.

Returning this year is an antique car show sponsored by the Sonora As and the Mother Lode Region Antique Car Club.

“We have enjoyed tremendous support from the community for our Silent Auction and from our business sponsors,” Elena Linehan, ATCAA’s Youth and Family Program Director, said. “We especially thank our sponsors Black Oak Casino, Blue Mountain Mineral, Condor Earth Technologies, Oak Valley Bank, Sierra Pacific Foundation, Sonora Area Foundation, the Union Democrat, and KVML/KZSQ/KKBN and My Motherlode.com.”

Event organizers can be contacted at ATCAA at 533-1397 ext. 297.

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