2019 Samoa Soiree

Jerk Chicken Kabob with Samoa Risotto

On Saturday, March 16, nearly 350 guests packed the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside hotel to celebrate the 11^th Annual Samoa Soiree. Top area chefs from 11 different restaurants created delectable dishes using a Girl Scout Cookie variety as a key ingredient!

This year, Executive Chef for Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites, Kyle Fowlkes, was named the winner of not one, not two, but five categories total! His sweet treat for the night, “Not a Donut,” won Best Dessert and People’s Choice for Sweet. His savory creation, “Jerk Chicken Kabob with Samoa Risotto” won Best Savory and People’s Choice for Savory. His culinary masterpieces also earned him Best in Show. His winning sweet dish featured fried brioche, Tagalong mousse and a peanut butter caramel.

Anchor Allie’s won Best Presentation for their “Samoa Wings” and The Ten Top took home the title of Most Creative Use of a Girl Scout Cookie with their “Coconut curry, peanut and sweet potato bisque with Samoa and Tagalong crouton crumble.”

Chef Kyle Fowlkes

The culinary delights were judged by local celebrities and foodies, including Patrick Evans-Hylton, publisher of Virginia Eats + Drinks Magazine; Grace Silipigni, online content editor of Coastal Virginia Magazine; Don London, vice president of operations at Entercom Communications Corporation; Anne Furlow, Yelp community manager; Ashley Smith, 13News Now Daybreak anchor and Marisa Marsey with Veer Magazine. GSCCC Board Chair Barbara Tierney also served as one of our judges for the evening.

This year’s participating restaurants included: Anchor Allie’s Bistro, The Butcher’s Son, Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites, Sysco Hampton Roads, Sheraton Norfolk Waterside, Hilton Norfolk The Main, The Dirty Buffalo, Cogan’s Pizza, The Ten Top, Kahiau’s Bakery & Café, and Nawab Indian Cuisine.

Proceeds from the event will fund opportunities for girls to take part in programs that will teach them about how to be go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leaders.

The event was generously sponsored by Newport News Shipbuilding, Wall Einhorn & Chernitzer, 

Edward Jones and Closed Curtain.

2019 Samoa Soiree Chefs

A huge thank you to our generous media partners who supported the event: 2WD 101.3, Entercom, 13News Now, Coastal Virginia Magazine, Tidewater Women Magazine, VEER Magazine, Yelp and Virginia Eats + Drinks.

Click here to view more photos from the event.