2017 Samoa Soiree

On Saturday, March 25, more than 300 guests tasted Girl Scouts Cookies like never before at the ninth annual Samoa Soiree, hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Eleven local restaurants competed to make the tastiest sweet or savory dish using a Girl Scout Cookie as the key ingredient.

This year’s winning dishes were:

The winning dishes by Catering by Farm Fresh,
Mixxer's Kitchen and The Bee & The Biscuit

Best Dessert: Coconut Dulce Cupcakes by Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar

Best Savory: Braised Pork by Catering by Farm Fresh

Best Presentation: Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton

Most Creative Use of a Girl Scout Cookie: Lemon Asiago Macaroni and Cheese with Savannah Smiles and Trefoils by The Vineyards Trattoria

People’s Choice for Best Dessert: Heaven and Earth Cupcakes by The Bee & The Biscuit

People’s Choice for Best Savory: Braised Pork by Catering by Farm Fresh

The culinary delights were judged by local celebrities and foodies, including Angela Blue, editor-in-chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine; Don London, vice president of operations at Entercom Communications Corporation; Marisa Marsey of VEER Magazine, Xerxes Nabong, Yelp community director; Steve Parnell, account executive with Little Brownie Bakers; Ashley Smith, 13News Now reporter and Peggy Sijswerda, editor and publisher of Tidewater Family Magazine and Tidewater Women Magazine.

This year’s participating restaurants included: The Bee & The Biscuit, The Butcher’s Son, Catering by Farm Fresh, Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton, Mermaid Catering, Event and Personal Chef Services, Mixxer’s Kitchen, RJ’s Café at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, Sweetwater Café, Tap It Local, Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar and The Vineyards Norfolk.

Guests enjoyed live entertainment by NO iD Music Group.

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 A. Reddix and Associates, Enspyr, and Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer P.C.

Thanks to the generous media partners who supported the event: 2WD 101.3, 13News Now, Coastal Virginia Magazine, Tidewater Women Magazine, VEER Magazine and Yelp.

View more photos here.

Meet Samoa Soiree Judge: Xerxes Nabong

When it comes to finding the highly-recommended restaurants and businesses, many people turn to Yelp, an online community where users can write reviews, post photos, find events and more. Xerxes Nabong is the Community Manager behind Yelp Hampton Roads. He has weighed in on more than 1,000 restaurants and businesses since he joined Yelp in 2011, posting reviews about the good, the bad and the ugly. He also organizes parties and get-togethers for top Yelpers in the region, oversees a weekly enewsletter, hits the streets to attend festivals and events and, most importantly, spreads the word about Yelp.

This month, Nabong is taking on one of his tastiest challenges yet—he is serving on the judging panel at Samoa Soiree, an event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast where local chefs make a sweet or savory dish using a Girl Scout Cookie as the key ingredient.

Xerxes receiving a plaque for Yelp's sponsorship of
the 2015 Samoa Soiree.

After attending Samoa Soiree for the past for years as a guest and sponsor, Nabong is looking forward to putting in his two-cents as a judge. He enjoys trying new foods, never knowing quite what to expect. For Nabong, it is all about that anticipation and excitement.

Although each dish at Samoa Soiree is made with at least one type of Girl Scout Cookie, among the desserts are plenty of savory dishes, which Nabong tends to prefer. He says that he can always go for a steak, and chicken wings are a close second. But, that does not mean that he hasn’t ever made a big dent in a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Samoa Soiree isn't the only way that Xerxes
supports Girl Scouts. In 2015, he joined the
organization as part of the Man Enough to
 Be a Girl Scout campaign.

“I do recall a cheesecake that I couldn’t help but get seconds, okay thirds, of a couple of years ago at Samoa Soiree,” Nabong said.

Before the big night, March 25, Nabong offers a bit of advice to this year’s competing chefs. He says that he appreciates dishes that are simple. He’s looking for something that anyone could make, but the chefs have executed perfectly and presented the cookie in an unexpected way.

“Sure, the stylish, fancy ones are nice to enjoy, but when simple dishes get a little pizazz added to them, it gives us regular folks some hope of throwing our own creativity into some of the simplest things,” Nabong said.

And, one other word of advice to the chefs—Thin Mints are Nabong’s favorite Girl Scout Cookie.

Samoa Soiree will take place on Saturday, March 25 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Great food and drinks, along with live music and a silent auction—all for a great cause. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased at www.gsccc.org.

Samoa Soiree Silent Auction- Buy it Now!

This year, we’re giving our Samoa Soiree guests – and others – a chance to buy three of the awesome Samoa Soiree silent auction items in advance of the event. Buy it Now silent auction items are only available for purchase from March 15 to 22, on a first come, first purchase basis. Read to the end for purchasing information.

Are you Going to Disney World? – Value $1,915 – Buy It Now Price - $1,500

Treat yourself to an unforgettable family vacation from May 25 through June 1, 2017, at Marriott's Grande Vista. These elegant resort villas are ideally placed in Orlando, Florida near a host of Disney® attractions, world-renowned golf courses and more. Make yourself at home in your spacious, one bedroom accommodations for four people. Visit our luxury resort in Orlando, Florida to benefit from creative, challenging course play at our Grande Vista Golf Club, a vast selection of on-site restaurant options, a state-of-the-art luxury spa, four heated swimming pools and a complete fitness center with free classes. Along with placing you near the unparalleled excitement of Walt Disney World®, our resort villas are only minutes away from Universal Studios Florida®, SeaWorld® and Amway Arena. Contemporary excellence is waiting for you at Marriott's Grande Vista. 

Four Walt Disney World One-Day Park Hopper Passes are included so you can start enjoying the sights as soon as you arrive.

Compliments of Michael Mendelsohn, GSCCC Board of Directors

Adventure is Out There! – Value $800 – Buy It Now $600

There’s nothing like a day at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium! The amazing aerial forest park features climbing and zip lining through majestic trees near the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Marsh Pavilion. Your group of 16 people can take to the treetops on 15 trails that weave between tree platforms on a 6-acre site. Trails are marked by the degree of challenge they provide, offering adventures for ages 5 through adult.  Explore the park on your own or make memories with your family and friends. This is a perfect outdoor activity for birthday parties, scout groups, school field trips, and corporate events or team building programs. Ages five to adult are welcome!

Compliments of The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium

Get Away to Mexico – Value $4,060 – Buy It Now Price – $3,500

Celebrate the 4th in Mexico this year! The Mayan Sea Garden Mazatlán has a luxurious one-bedroom suite for four waiting for your arrival on July 1-8, 2017. This beach-front property adds deluxe leisure-time amenities to one of the most breathtaking beaches in Mexico.  Enjoy your favorite water sport or experience the best fishing in the Pacific Ocean, all from the comfort of Mayan Sea Garden. Or take advantage of the multiple swimming pools and fine dining. Called "The Pearl of the Pacific," Mazatlán has the feel of a small town by day and energetic city by night.

Compliments of Michael Mendelsohn, GSCCC Board of Directors

Here’s how it works:

Buy it Now silent auction items are available for purchase one week only-- March 15-22, 2017, on a first come, first purchase basis.

Contact us at philanthropy@gsccc.org if you are ready to Buy it Now. Intent to buy messages sent to philanthropy@gsccc.org will be processed in the order they are received.

All winning bidders must claim their items within 24 hours, paid in full, to secure it. Payment in full is accepted with credit (online) or check (in person).

Any items not paid in full within 24 hours will go to the next bidder or remain available the week of March 15-22, 2017.

Items not purchased during Buy it Now will be available at the Samoa Soiree on Saturday, March 25, 2017.

NO iD

Three years ago, Rebekah Gray was out enjoying an evening of live music, one of her favorite ways to wind down after another week as a middle school teacher. At the concert, she met Jay Terry, who a fellow audience member. Soon after they started talking, their shared love of music was realized. The two decided that with her talented singing voice and his writing skills and musical talent, they could start their own band. Soon after, NO iD was born. Today, Gray and Terry have added three more members, and they have become well-loved across Hampton Roads for their cover renditions of popular R&B, pop, classic rock and soul tunes.

NO iD

Earlier this year, Gray was approached by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast about performing at Samoa Soiree, their adult-only tasting event where top chefs use Girl Scout Cookies to make desserts and savory dishes. Gray was excited to sign NO iD on to perform this year, as she has her own special connections to Girl Scouts.

While growing up in Virginia Beach, Gray joined the Girl Scouts when she was in elementary school. She has fond memories of going on camping trips with her troop. Girl Scouts gave her the opportunity to take part in some of her first unique outdoor experiences—cooking over a campfire and exploring nature with hikes through the woods. Now, Gray’s five-year-old daughter, Genesis, is a Girl Scout Daisy, and Gray is getting to take part in some of her favorite Girl Scout experiences again with her daughter.

“I am really looking forward to Samoa Soiree,” Gray said. “I am excited to be involved in Girl Scouts again with my daughter, and it’s exciting to be involved on another level as the entertainment at Samoa Soiree.”

Gray is also looking forward to being able to introduce her fellow band members to Girl Scouts and how the organization benefits girls. As with their other performances, at Samoa Soiree, NO iD will take old school R&B and add a modern pop and soulful twist to the sound. They enjoy making music that makes people feel good.

Samoa Soiree will take place on Saturday, March 25 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Everyone is invited to taste Girl Scout Cookies like never before at this adult-only event. The evening will include great food and drinks, along with live music and silent auction – and all for a great cause. Tickets are $60 each until March 1 and then increase to $75 each. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.gsccc.org.

2016 Samoa Soiree

On Saturday, March 5, more than 500 guests attended the 8th annual Samoa Soiree, a unique tasting event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, where top chefs use Girl Scout Cookies as a key ingredient to make desserts and appetizers. This year, 14 restaurants participated in the culinary competition, which took place at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk.

The culinary delights were judged by local celebrities and foodies, including WVEC Reporter Ashley Smith, who also served as the emcee for the evening, Angela Blue, editor-in-chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine; Don London, vice president of operations at Entercom Communications; Marisa Marsey with VEER Magazine; and Steve Parnell, account executive with Little Brownie Bakers.

This year’s winning dishes were:

Dishes by Gourmet Gang and HomeGrown

Best Dessert: Thin Mint Cake Pops by RJ's Cafe at the Salvation Army Kroc Center

Best Savory: Make Your Own Do-si-dos Salad by Now You're Cooking Culinary Studio

Best Presentation: Thin Mints Blackberry Cheesecake with Samoas Crust by Gourmet Gang

Most Creative Use of a Girl Scout Cookie: Rah Rah Raisins Sausage with Lemon Cream Sauce by HomeGrown

Best in Show: Spicy Thin Mint Beef Pad Thai and Tangelo Ice Cream with Rah Rah Raisins Waffle Cone by Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton

People’s Choice for Best Savory: Savannah Smiles Chicken by Tap It Local

People's Choice for Best Dessert: Thin Mints Blackberry Cheesecake with Samoas Crust by Gourmet Gang

This year’s participating restaurants included: Anchor Allie’s Bistro, The Butcher’s Son, Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites, Farm Fresh Supermarkets, Freemason Abbey Restaurant, Gourmet Gang, HomeGrown, Now You’re Cooking, The Press Norfolk, RJ’s Café at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, Tap It Local, Travinia Italian Kitchen, Twisted Sisters Cupcakes and The Vineyards Trattoria.

In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the national Girl Scout Cookie Program, guests at Samoa Soiree enjoyed live entertainment from 504 Supreme Band, a local ensemble known for their high-energy swing and jazz music.

Proceeds from the event will support the Opportunity Fund, which provides financial assistance to girls whose families need help with Girl Scout membership, summer camp and program fees.

A huge thank you to this year's sponsors: PRA Group, TowneBank, Little Brownie Bakers, Greenbrier Dodge, Patrick Cvitanovich and Suzanne Aldridge of UBS, Wall, Einhorn and Chernitzer P.C., The Miles Agency, Kaufman and Canoles, Farm Fresh Supermarkets, Top Guard Security, Nathan and Co. Real Estate Team, WVEC-TV 13, The New 101.3, Yelp, Coastal Virginia Magazine, VEER Magazine and Tidewater Women Magazine.

View more photos from the event here.

Meet Samoa Soiree Competitor: Chef Bob Hirasawa

Flavorful. Attractive. Creative. That’s how Chef Bob Hirasawa, executive chef of Farm Fresh Supermarkets, describes his cooking. With more than 44 years of culinary experience, he currently researches and develops recipes, supervises retail chefs and supports the catering operations for all 43 Farm Fresh locations.

Chef Bob and GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller

Chef Bob developed a love for creative cooking and unique flavor combinations at a young age. He grew up watching Julia Child and Graham Kerr on television and was fascinated by their skills and creativity. He was also frequently tasting new flavors and new foods at home.

“I was influenced by my mother’s interest in cooking different ethnic foods and her passion to learn more about them, trying the dishes on our family,” Chef Bob said.

His own culinary career started in the early 1970s when he took a job as a broiler cook in a Japanese restaurant. Over the years, he has worked in restaurants, hotels, country clubs and supermarkets around the country. Although he received formal culinary training at the City College of San Francisco, Chef Bob says that most of his skills have come from working with talented chefs throughout his career.

2015 Samoa Soiree Best Savory Dish

With so much experience, Chef Bob will putting his own creativity to the test as he enters a culinary challenge like no other this March—Samoa Soiree. Now in its eighth year, Samoa Soiree, which is hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, challenges local chefs to create dishes—sweet or savory—using Girl Scout Cookies as a key ingredient. Last year was Chef Bob’s first time at Samoa Soiree and he took home the prize for best savory dish for his golden lamb chops with Samoas mashed sweet potatoes. This year, he’ll be back to defend his title.

Chef Bob is no stranger to culinary competitions. He has been a part of numerous events across the region since joining the Farm Fresh team in 2007. He enjoys the friendly competition and the chance to meet and network with fellow chefs in the area. But, for Chef Bob, Samoa Soiree is about more than the food and the competition. It’s also about supporting the Girl Scouts. Both of his daughters spent years in the organization, making their way from Brownie to Cadette levels. His wife was also a Girl Scout Brownie leader for some time.

“Girl Scouts was a positive influence in my daughters’ lives,” Chef Bob said. “It helped them with their goal setting and self-confidence. Girl Scouts directs girls to wholesome, positive values.”

As to what Chef Bob will be cooking up for Samoa Soiree, that’s a secret until the big night. But, we do know his approach.

“I generally take the concept of a dish I like, and I will incorporate as many cookies into the ingredients as I can,” Chef Bob explained. “Then, I actually make the dish and see if it works.”

Guests can sample Chef Bob’s recipe, along with food from 10 other chefs, at the 8th annual Samoa Soiree on Saturday, March 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. The evening will include great food, live music by the 504 Supreme swing band and a live auction. Tickets are $60 each until February 19, and then the price increases to $75 each. Find more information and purchase tickets here.

Proceeds from the event will support the Opportunity Fund, which provides financial assistance to girls whose families need help with Girl Scout membership, summer camp and program fees.

The event is being generously sponsored by Coastal Virginia Magazine, Farm Fresh Supermarkets, Greenbrier Dodge, Kaufman and Canoles, Little Brownie Bakers, The Miles Agency, The New 101.3, PRA Group, Tidewater Women Magazine, TowneBank, UBS, VEER Magazine, WVEC-TV 13 and Yelp.

2015 Samoa Soiree

On Saturday, March 7, more than 400 guests attended the 7th annual Samoa Soiree, a unique tasting event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast where top chefs from Hampton Roads made desserts and appetizers using Girl Scout Cookies as a key ingredient. This year, 19 restaurants participated in the culinary competition hosted at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk.

Judges at this year's Samoa Soiree: Melissa Stewart,
Angela Blue, Steve Parnell, Vanessa Coria, Don London

The culinary delights were judged by area celebrities and foodies, including WVEC Anchor Vanessa Coria, who also served as the MC for the evening, Angela Blue, associate editor of Coastal Virginia Magazine, Sandra DeLoatch, provost and vice president for academic affairs for Norfolk State University, Don London, of The New 101.3, Steve Parnell, account executive for Little Brownie Bakers and Melissa Stewart, editor-in-chief for Coastal Virginia Magazine.

This year’s winning dishes were:

Best Dessert: Tagalongs Peanut Butter Crunch Cupcake by Coastal Grill

Best Savory: Golden Lamb Chops with Samoas Mashed Sweet Potatoes by Farm Fresh Supermarkets

Best Presentation: Trefoil Arepas with Tequila Lime Port and Thin Mints Mole by BRAVO! Cucina Italiana

S'moras by Rocket Fuel Juice Bar &
Food Lab

Most Creative Use of a Girl Scout Cookie: S’moras (deconstructed s’mores made with Samoas) by Rocket Fuel Juice Bar & Food Lab

Best in Show: Lobster and Savannah Smiles Stuffed Shrimp over Quinoa Stir Fry with Yuzu Jus by Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton

People’s Choice: Samoas Chicken Curry Arancini with Mint Yogurt Dipping Sauce by Cotton Southern Bistro

Restaurants that participated in this year’s Samoa Soiree included: AJ Gators, Anchor Allie’s Bistro, Gateaux Bakery, gb&d sweet eats, Hell’s Kitchen, Home Republic Brewpub, Lucky Oyster, Now You’re Cooking Culinary Studio, RJ’s at The Kroc Center, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Travinia Italian Kitchen, Twisted Sisters Sugar Shack Café and The Vineyards.

Ruth's Chris Steak House made a
cheesecake using Do-si-dos

Guests at Samoa Soiree also enjoyed live music by acoustic guitarist and singer Lewis McGehee and bidding on first rate items in a silent auction that included a week at a beach house in the Outer Banks, a football autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin and more.

Proceeds from the event will support the Opportunity Fund, which provides financial assistance to girls whose families need help with Girl Scout membership, summer camp and program fees.

The event was generously sponsored by Coastal Virginia Magazine, East Coast Valet Company, Farm Fresh Food and Pharmacy, Greenbrier Dodge, Kaufman and Canoles Attorneys at Law, Little Brownie Bakers, Mark A. Vandeveer, CPA, The New 101.3, Solutrix CyberSecurity, Tidewater Women, Top Guard Security, TowneBank, VEER Magazine, Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer CPAs and Advisors, WVEC-TV 13 and Yelp.

View more photos from the event here.

Meet Samoa Soiree Participant: Home Republic Brewpub

With a winning smile and a solid handshake, Barbara McElroy, co-owner of Home Republic Brewpub in Virginia Beach, regularly stations herself  near the front door to greet guests. It’s not hard to figure out why this young entrepreneur is a success, but helping run an up-and- coming restaurant and brewery isn't the only job she shoulders. By day, Barbara holds a pharmaceutical sales position and squeezes in graduate courses at The College of William and Mary where she intends to earn a MBA next year.

Barbara McElroy

Like most entrepreneurs, she seems to have “power ups” racked up for future use and endless energy. That impression has a solid foundation. She says it takes a lot of organizational skills, determination and planning to make it all work–  skills she says were learned in Girl Scouts.

“Selling Girl Scout cookies definitely taught me skills I’m using today,” she said emphatically. “ I used cold call sales techniques even back then. I'd research my neighborhood and surrounding area, get phone numbers and then start calling going from top to bottom on the list. I had a sales pitch to use on the phone, and I had one that I used when I went door to door or at cookie booths. It was a great way to learn how to speak to customers and it gave me confidence in public speaking that I used in school. Now, I’m using those same skills in my job!”

Barbara grew up in the Richmond area and was a Girl Scout until she graduated from high school. Selling Girl Scout Cookies is a big part of her memories, but having fun with her troop and the good feelings that community service brought to her are also part of her internal scrapbook. Her community service included time spent with disabled children in an equestrian program where children had an enjoyable experience while developing muscle tone, balance and coordination. Her work in community service helped her earn the second highest award a girl can earn in Girl Scouts, the Silver Award.

Barbara also recalls the great times she had as a teen in Girl Scouts where she was challenged by white water rafting and other high adventures. Skill building, good times and the relationships she built, are all part of the memories she took away from those years as a Girl Scout.   

“My mom was my leader for most of my years in Girl Scouts,” Barbara recalls. “My sister is just one year younger than me and was a Girl Scout, too. It was nice to have something we all shared. I think we’re closer because of Girl Scouts. “   

Chef Jeremy Wallace

Barbara and her fiance, Joe Curtis, who earned the rank of Eagle as a Boy Scout, opened Home Republic Brewpub last June. Their smoky burger and King Kolsch beer that is brewed on the premises are winning selections and have had great reviews, but many say the She Crab soup is the best on the menu. They’re excited to be part of Samoa Soiree, and their lead chef, Jeremy Wallace, has been experimenting with Girl Scout Cookies to come up with a winning recipe. Jeremy will be in competition with 18 other top chefs from Hampton Roads at this year’s event taking place on Saturday, March 7 at the Half Moone in Norfolk. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online here.

You can watch Barbara and Jeremy on The Hampton Roads Show on February 25 at 11 a.m. on WAVY-TV 10. Jeremy will be cooking up a savory dish using Samoas.

Meet Samoa Soiree Participant: The Vineyards

From server to restaurant owner, Shannon McConnell has shown that she can do anything she puts her mind to. This determination, she says, stems from her years as a Girl Scout, where she learned about the great sense of accomplishment that comes from working towards goals to earn badges. She has worked in just about every capacity in restaurants since her college days and has now owned The Vineyards, an Italian restaurant located in downtown Norfolk, for two years.

Shannon, who grew up in Atlanta, joined Girl Scouts when she was in third grade. Going on camping trips with her troop and selling Girl Scout Cookies were two of her favorite activities as a Girl Scout.

“I remember the friendly competition in my troop when it came to selling Girl Scout Cookies,” Shannon said. “Girls in my troop would team up, and we would really encourage each other reach our goals.”

Shannon McConnell and Ross Rogers from The Vineyards

Now, Shannon is excited to be reconnect with Girl Scouts, just in time for one of her favorite times of the year—cookie season. The Vineyards, led by Chef Ross Rogers, will be participating in the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s signature tasting event, Samoa Soiree. At this event, The Vineyards will be one of 20 restaurants competing to make unique desserts and hors d’oeuvres using a Girl Scout Cookie variety as the key ingredient.

Like Shannon, Chef Ross is no stranger to Girl Scouts. His daughters, who are now grown, spent time as Girl Scouts while growing up in the Hampton Roads area, so he knows firsthand the benefits of Girl Scouting. During his years as a Girl Scout dad, Chef Ross helped his daughters throughout the cookie program— hauling cookie boxes, helping them organize all of their orders and supporting their goals. He also took special outdoor and first aid training courses in order to ensure that there were enough volunteers to provide his daughters and their fellow troop members with unique outdoor experiences, including white water canoeing.

Chef Ross, who has been with The Vineyards for 10 months, discovered his true passion for cooking when he lived in Italy for three months while working as a computer tech. He would visit restaurants, enjoy a great meal and then go home to try to recreate the flavors in his own kitchen. With this background experimental and creative cooking, he already has a recipe in mind for Samoa Soiree.

“The training that I’ve gone through in the culinary arts program at Tidewater Community College taught me a lot about taste profiles,” Chef Ross said. “So when thinking about a recipe for Samoa Soiree, I started brainstorming about what foods would pair well with the different Girl Scout Cookies.”

He also says that it takes a lot of experience, research and trial and error to come up with unique recipes. Chef Ross is looking forward to sharing his recipe, which will feature one of the peanut buttery Girl Scout Cookies, at Samoa Soiree.

Everyone is invited to join Girl Scouts for an evening of tasting, live music, dancing and bidding on first-rate silent auction items at the Samoa Soiree on March 7 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Tickets are $60 each and can be purchased here.

Meet Samoa Soiree Participant: Chef Kyle Fowlkes

This spring, chefs from across Hampton Roads will be putting their culinary creativity to the test as they participate in Samoa Soiree, an annual event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast where chefs use Girl Scout Cookies to make unique desserts and appetizers. This year, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast will be welcoming Chef Kyle Fowlkes, executive chef for Embassy Suites Hampton Roads—Hotel, Spa and Convention Center, as well as the Cyprus Grille Restaurant, as a participant.

Chef Kyle got an early start in the kitchen. He remembers working alongside his grandmother from an early age while growing up in Massachusetts. Her cooking gave him the opportunity to sample New England fare, as well as her native southern cuisine. Now, Chef Kyle looks back and says that it was the experiences with his grandmother that led him to pursue a career in culinary arts.

A 2003 graduate of Johnson & Wales University in 2003, Chef Kyle learned about the Samoa Soiree at a local Johnson & Wales alumni event when he met Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller, a fellow JWU alumna.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what creative dishes other chefs come up for at the Samoa Soiree,” Chef Kyle said. “I also can't wait to work with my team to see what we can come up with.”

Chef Kyle, who has been with Embassy Suites in Hampton since 2005, currently oversees a culinary team that serves as many as 2,500 people in one seating and has catered to guests including state government officials, presidents of Fortune 500 companies and military generals. Chef Kyle, who has lived in Virginia for over 20 years, is committed to using locally grown produce, artisan cheeses, meats and seafood from the Chesapeake Bay in his dishes.

With a myriad of recognitions and awards on his résumé, Chef Kyle most recently took home the runner’s up award from the Virginia is for Lovers Culinary Madness Challenge for his delicious recipe—Nana’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken. He also participated in the most recent Tastefully Yours fundraising event to support the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, where he took home a people’s choice and a judge’s choice award for his house made pimento cheese fritters and French macarons. Chef Kyle regularly appears on The Hampton Roads Show to share his recipes with local audiences.

In addition to wowing Hampton Roads with delicious flavors, Chef Kyle is also dedicated to giving back to the community. He speaks at area high schools and volunteers as a mentor for students who are interested in pursuing culinary arts. He is also a proud sponsor of a regional women’s finance group, for which he hosts monthly food and wine pairing events.

What can guests expect from Chef Kyle at Samoa Soiree? That’s a secret until March 7, but he is known for bringing southern cuisine to live with a contemporary American and Asian flare. He also says that Samoas are his favorite Girl Scout Cookie variety. Everyone is invited to join Girl Scouts for this adult-only tasting event at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, which also includes live music and a silent auction. More information about the event and purchasing tickets can be found at www.gsccc.org.

2014 Samoa Soiree

Chef Kisha Frazier's winning
Key Lime Samoas Tarts

On February 8, top chefs in Hampton Roads competed in the 6th annual Samoa Soiree, an annual fundraising event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, where Girl Scout Cookies are used to create unique desserts and appetizers. This year’s competitors included returning champion Chef Kisha Frazier of Chesapeake, who took home the award for judge’s choice for favorite dessert for her Thin Mints-inspired macaroons in 2013. This year, her Key Lime Samoas Tarts stole the show, winning Best in Show and People’s Choice for Favorite Dessert.

Frazier’s popularity as a pastry chef has been growing for the past four years since she opened Terebinth Patisserie and Bistro in Chesapeake. She has closed Terebinth, but her sweet treats are still available at her new location—Hummingbird Macarons located inside Now That’s Good Cooking Culinary Studio in Chesapeake, as well as a kiosk at MacArthur Center in Norfolk.

For Frazier, participating in the Samoa Soiree is about much more than the friendly culinary competition. It’s about supporting the Girl Scouts, an organization that helped to shape her life and today. Frazier vividly remembers cooking a Sunrise sandwich over a campfire with Girl Scouts—an experience that helped her chart a course in culinary arts.

“I still remember how great that open-faced sandwich tasted,” Frazier said. “We hollowed out the center so we could cook the egg in the middle, and sprinkled the outer edges with cheese. Not only did it taste great, but I experienced it at a campsite in Hawaii with 20 of my favorite Girl Scout friends!”

Her experiences in Girl Scouting, earning badges, including the cooking badge, and learning to take risks in and out of the kitchen, inspired her to pursue her dream to be a chef and take the risk of being a business owner.

Frazier started out as a banquet server, and she discovered that she enjoyed making sure that people had an enjoyable dining experience. This prompted her to attend Johnson and Wales University and then receieve accreditation in food and beverage management at Norfolk State University. Following her schooling, she was the opening chef at Nordstrom Café. She also worked as the school server manager at a top private school before opening Terebinth. Now, as the owner and pastry chef at Hummingbird Macarons, Frazier can focus on the things she does best—including macaroons and tarts.

Read more about Samoa Soiree here and view photos here.

Chef Kisha Frazier (second from right) with friends in front of her table at
the 6th annual Samoa Soiree.

2013 Samoa Soiree

Once again, Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast will host the annual Samoa Soiree where chefs from select area restaurants will be challenged to create desserts and appetizers using Girl Scout cookies as the key ingredient. These one-of-a-kind culinary delights will be judged by area celebrities, among them – food writer and critic Patrick Evans-Hylton and WVEC anchors Vanessa Coria and LaSalle Blanks. Not only will there be fine food and beverages, but fine music supplied by the Jim Newsom Band. This event offers an opportunity to enjoy friends in an entertaining atmosphere while supporting Girl Scouts! A silent auction will also be part of the festivities, so be ready to bid on some choice items. Tickets are available for purchase at only $50 per person.

Samoa Soiree details & tickets
Samoa Soiree Facebook