AC Convention Center Cooks Xmas Dinner for 1,800

Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is once again giving back to the Atlantic City community this holiday season. Spectra's Executive Chef George Fisher, his staff, and a team of volunteers including chefs from the local casinos and members of the Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey will be assisting with the dinner preparations to serve to local community members in need. Those include nearly 500 homeless at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission and 500 others at the Salvation Army located on Texas Avenue. Also, these 'Chefs on a Mission' will prepare meals for Sister Jean's Kitchen and the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia.

For the past four years, Spectra's Fisher has led the charge preparing Thanksgiving dinner at the Convention Center for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission in addition to the Salvation Army, Sister Jean's Kitchen, and the Ronald McDonald House most recently. This year, an overwhelming number of donations were received from local casinos, food vendors, and Spectra Food Services & Hospitality to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner; thus providing the group the opportunity to extend their charitable efforts to prepare the first annual Christmas Dinner at the Convention Center.

The cooking begins on Tuesday, December 19 and will run through Thursday, December 21. Meals will be delivered to each entity Friday, December 22. The team will prepare Tequila lime grilled Tuna with Mango Salsa, Glazed Smoked Ham, Chicken Pot Pie, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Rice Pilaf, Vegetables, Dinner Rolls and Dessert.

"We are very excited to prepare a Christmas meal for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army, Sister Jean's Kitchen, and the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia," said Fisher. "Last year we had extra food donations from Rastelli Meats, so we donated it to the AC Mission directly for them to prepare their Christmas dinner.

"This year the donations were such in abundance, we have enough food to prepare 1,800 meals for Christmas. Viking Village in Barnegat Light donated 1500 lbs. of tuna. Today, we have chefs thoughout the city breaking them down and making tuna steaks. Rastelli Meats donated 700 lbs. of smoked hams. We will be slicing them on Tuesday. Spectra is donating 80 gallons of chicken pot pie, which will be made on Thursday. Golden Nugget donated 250 lbs. of green beans, and Tropicana donated mashed potatoes and stuffing. Minos and Classic Cakes donated the desserts while Valenti's bakery donated dinner rolls."

"Volunteers have been great for the Christmas dinner just like Thanksgiving. This holiday spirit keeps growing every year. It is an honor to be a part of this great event working with all the great volunteers, chefs, casinos, and vendors to make all of this happen. A special thanks to everyone here at the Convention Center that supports this event."

For those looking to prepare unique menu items for their own families and friends this holiday season, Chef Fisher has created '12 Days of Recipes' that are currently being featured on the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall Facebook Pages. On Wednesday, December 20, all 12 recipes culminate in a Recipe Book that can be downloaded from www.BoardwalkHall.com.

To support this initiative and other events throughout the year, please visit the "AC Chefs on a Mission" Facebook page which has been created to help promote and generate awareness for donations and volunteers. Contributions can be made to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission online at www.ACRescueMission.org and food donations can be made to the Mission at 2009 Bacharach Blvd. in Atlantic City.