LRA Baton Rouge Chapter hosts its 11th Annual Silent Auction

If you’re looking for a great event filled with the Baton Rouge area’s hottest restaurants, the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Greater Baton Rouge Chapter’s 11^th Annual Silent Auction is where it’s at! Join the fun Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel for unique silent auction items and celebrity bartenders. 

A new component of this year’s event is the crowning of a LRA Greater Baton Rouge Top Tailgating Chef. Participating restaurants, Ruffino’s, Walk On’s, Mestizo’s, Bistro Byronz, Little Village, Le Creole, Stab’s, Tallulah, Don’s Seafood Hut and L’Auberge Baton Rouge, will serve their tailgate specialties and vie for the crown. Event attendees will vote on their favorite restaurant which will determine the winner.

“With the excitement in the Capitol Region surrounding LSU Football, it was a natural progression to award this unique new title to one of our participating restaurants,” said LRA Greater Baton Rouge Chapter President Ryan Nizzo.

In addition, celebrity bartenders, Todd Graves, Founder of Raising Cane’s; Matt Saurage, President of Community Coffee; and Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, owners of Last In Concepts, will be serving up their specialty one-of-a-kind libations.

Attendees will have the chance to bid on outstanding items such as: A crawfish or shrimp boil for 20 of you closest friends at your home donated by Don’s Seafood Hut in Gonzales; a progressive wine dinner for 8 or 10 of your nearest and dearest with stops at Ruffino’s, Juban’s and Beausoilel, including transportation; a private dinner for 10 at Eighteen Steakhouse at L’Auberge Baton Rouge; LSU Baseball suite tickets; artwork; wine baskets; tailgating gear and the list goes on.

“The Silent Auction benefits the LRA Education Foundation, which is doing fantastic work through its statewide ProStart program, which trains students for careers in the restaurant industry,” said Nizzo. “This is one of two fundraisers our chapter hosts annually to support our charitable foundation.”

The event also features a Cork Pull for wine, spirits and gift certificates to various area restaurants. One pull is $20 and you’re guaranteed an item valued at $25 or more.

The VIP Preview Party starts at 5:30 p.m. at Tallulah in the Renaissance Hotel and tickets are $70. General admission tickets are $50 and the event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel. For more information, or to purchase your tickets, call Courtney Waguespack at (225) 328-2163 or email cwaguespack@lra.org.