Credit: Courtesy Food Network
In 2015, longstanding Honorary Chair Wolfgang Puck ceded the reins of Five Star Sensation, a biennial fundraiser for UH Seidman Cancer Center, to Cleveland native Michael Symon, owner of numerous restaurants including Lola and Mabel’s BBQ in Cleveland, Roast in Detroit, Angeline in Atlantic City, and Mabel’s BBQ and Sara’s in Las Vegas. This year marks the Iron Chef’s third honor hosting the glitzy event.

Since its inception in 1987, Five Star Sensation has raised more than $20 million for University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center. This year’s event will take place at Cuyahoga Community College in Highland Hills on Saturday, June 15 and feature more than 60 chefs and winemakers from around the world.

“I am thrilled for my continued participation in this culinary extravaganza in my hometown benefitting University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center,” Symon states. “It raises vital funds for such an important cause in our community, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve as Host Chef of this truly sensational evening.”

Notable chefs who will be participating in this year’s gala include Brad Lettau and Frank Ostini (The Hitching Post, Napa, CA), Celina Tio (The Belfry, Kansas City, MO), Charles Voudrous (iPic Entertainment, Los Angeles, CA), John Alers, (Flour & Barley, Las Vegas, NV), Jonathon Sawyer (Greenhouse Tavern), Kelly English (Restaurant Iris, Memphis, TN), Sam Choy (Poke to the Max, Hawaii) and Stephen Lewandowski (Harlan Social, Miami, FL).

Funds from the benefit, which includes live music, dancing and silent auction, support UH Seidman Cancer Center physician-scientists’ innovative work to identify promising new therapies as well as community cancer screenings, cancer information services and public education programs.

For more information or to purchase sponsorships and tickets visit Five Star Sensation, email FiveStar@UHhospitals.org or call 216-844-0416.

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This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2019.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.