Top educators heat up the kitchen at fundraiser

About 150 diners enjoyed a feast from Lumberyard chef Armando Ortega on Monday night during SchoolPower’s sixth annual Chef Challenge to benefit the Laguna Beach Unified School District.

The fundraiser brought in $10,025, for a total of $65,887 since its inception, Brendy Michael, marketing manager for SchoolPower, a nonprofit foundation that raises money for Laguna’s public schools, wrote in an email. Michael thanked Lumberyard owners Cary and Suzanne Redfearn for hosting the event.

Principals from the four district schools split into teams of two and selected menus. Guests voted for their favorite dishes.

The team of Chris Duddy and Mike Conlon, from El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools, respectively, earned the victory. Duddy and Conlon’s menu featured a prosciutto-wrapped shrimp cigar, polenta with lamb and butter cake for dessert.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce