The Seacoast Culinary Challenge Returns for 2025

Local Chefs Compete to Raise Awareness and Funds to Combat Food Insecurity on the Seacoast

The Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation is thrilled to announce the return of the Seacoast Culinary Challenge, a high-energy cooking competition with a powerful purpose: to fight food insecurity in the Seacoast region.

This year’s Challenge will be held on Wednesday, October 29 at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The event will bring together top local chefs and aspiring student culinarians for a thrilling mystery-ingredient cook-off to raise money and awareness for those facing hunger. During the competition, chefs will face off in two timed rounds (one appetizer and one entrée) where they will receive a mystery bag of ingredients, and be evaluated by a panel of judges on their dish’s creativity, appearance and taste.

“The Seacoast Culinary Challenge is more than a celebration of food, it’s a powerful expression of compassion,” said Emily Moore, Director of Advancement for the Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation. “By bringing together the region’s most talented chefs and passionate community members, we’re showcasing culinary excellence and taking a bold stand against hunger. This event reminds us that when we come together with purpose, we can nourish more than just bodies, we foster hope, dignity, and the promise of a thriving future for all.”

Guests will enjoy a high energy performance and essentially be watching the production of a live cooking competition like Chopped,” said Diane Carragher, Director of PR at Lighthouse Credit Union, “Culinary arts students will join as sous chefs, adding a mentorship and educational dimension to the event. Expect to see creativity, friendly rivalries, and the artistry of cooking unfold right before your eyes.”

Carragher was excited to announce that this year’s event will be hosted by David Vargas, who is the Executive Chef and Owner of Vida Cantina and Ore Nell’s Barbecue, and a James Beard Award nominee, and will be co-hosted by Caitlin McGrath Levesque of Red’s Good Vibes, a nonprofit organization providing free food across the Seacoast through a mobile food truck and community fridge programs. Both are known not only for their culinary craft, but their unwavering commitment to community well-being.

The competing chefs for the 2025 Challenge are:

• Chef Lee Frank – Otis (Exeter, NH), Lee Frank’s (South Berwick, ME & Exeter, NH) James Beard nominee and Yes! Chef Finalist

• Chef Nicole Nocella – Stalk (Dover, NH) James Beard nominee

• Chef Brendan Vesey – Botanica (Portsmouth, NH)

• Chef Chris Viaud – The Lake Estates on Winnisquam, (Tilton, NH) James Beard nominee and Top Chef Season 18 competitor

Each chef will be paired with a high school culinary student from the Dover Career and Technical Center or Portsmouth High School, creating hands-on mentorship moments as the audience watches the duos bring bold dishes to life.

A diverse panel of judges, including Chris Parker, President & CEO of Lighthouse Credit Union, Chef Julie Cutting, Owner of Cure, and others, will evaluate each dish for creativity, execution, and flavor.

“I’m most looking forward to rallying the community together in support of our friends and neighbors who need it most,” said Carragher, “At Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation, our mission is to enrich and nourish the lives of others, and this event reflects that commitment by serving as a convener for the community. The Seacoast Culinary Challenge is more than a competition—it’s a platform for us to lift each other up, celebrate local talent, and come together to make a meaningful impact”

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit Red’s Good Vibes, NH Food Bank, and Good Shepherd Food Bank, local programs that help families access nutritious meals year-round.

“This isn’t just a food event—it’s a fundraiser with heart,” said Carragher, “Guests will learn about food insecurity challenges in New Hampshire and Maine and see firsthand how their attendance supports local families.”

For tickets, visit  Seacoast Culinary Challenge | Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation. For more information about the event, please visit culinary.lighthousecufoundation.org.