Media Contact:

Ally Dorrough • Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
[email protected] • GulfShores.com/Media-Room
1-800-745-SAND • 251-968-9327 (direct) • 251-752-7745 (cell)

Jazz brunch and cooking demo Sunday, Nov. 12 at The Wharf in Orange Beach

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – “Eat well, be well” is the theme surrounding the Mediterranean-inspired jazz brunch and cooking demonstration on Sunday, Nov. 12 during World Food Championships, benefiting the University of South Alabama Hospitality and Tourism Management scholarship program. Crafted by chef Katie Dixon of MasterChef Season 7, the event will incorporate culinary students from Coastal Alabama Community College and Bishop State Community College.

“The jazz brunch highlights community service at its finest, promoting the hospitality and tourism industry and bringing multiple local higher education institutions together for a common goal – raising industry awareness and funding for scholarships,” says Dr. Robert Thompson, interim chair for the USA Hospitality and Tourism Management department. “With tourism being a major economic driver along the Alabama Gulf Coast, many of the students in our program will begin their hospitality careers in this tourism mecca, and we aim to assist them financially.”

Coastal Alabama Community College and Bishop State culinary students will have the remarkable opportunity of working alongside a celebrity chef and help prepare the four-course, heart-healthy brunch. The MasterChef alum and Mississippi native will share her experience from the show and passion for educating others about healthy living.

Chef Dixon will present the jazz brunch at 10:30 a.m. and a healthy cooking demonstration at 1 p.m. as well as auction off a private dinner for eight during the event. Live jazz entertainment will be provided by Gulf Coast musician Jesse Hill. Tickets may be purchased at EventBrite.com for $60 per person for the jazz brunch and $20 per person for the cooking demonstration at The Palms at The Wharf in Orange Beach.

This level of event is made possible by chef Dixon graciously donating her time and resources along with World Food Championships and industry partners recognizing the need for financial support for USA’s hospitality program. Visit SouthAlabama.edu/HTM for more information on the program. For more on chef Dixon, go to ChefKatieDixon.com. Check out WorldFoodChampionships.com for the full lineup of events open to the public from Nov. 8-12, 2017.

Event Flyer:

https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/ceps/resources/htm-scholarship2-2017.pdf

About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism:

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism serves as the official destination marketing organization for the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in addition to the unincorporated area of Fort Morgan. To learn more about the whole different state of discovery on Alabama’s 32 miles of white-sand beaches, visit either GulfShores.com or OrangeBeach.com. This convention and visitors bureau is an accredited Destination Marketing Organization (2012-2016).

About University of South Alabama Hospitality and Tourism Management:

The University of South Alabama's Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) program offers an interdisciplinary perspective that prepares students for local and global hospitality and tourism careers. Students participate in academic, observational, situational, and experiential settings to meet program competency requirements. The program is designed to empower students to become future leaders in the global hospitality and tourism industry. For more information, visit SouthAlabama.edu/HTM or call 251-461-1902.

About Chef Katie Dixon:

Katie Dixon is a Mississippi native that’s passionate about healthy living. Katie’s passion for healthy cooking allowed her to be part of season 7 of Fox Network’s MasterChef. Since her time on MasterChef, Katie has since spent time all over the country performing cooking demos, as well as speaking and sharing her story in hopes of encouraging women who share her struggles. To schedule Katie for your event, ChefKatieDixon.com/Contact.