On October 16, the Columbus Botanical Garden will host its signature annual fundraiser, the Garden Gala.
This year’s Gala is presented by Synovus, and will feature award-winning chef, TV personality, author, tastemaker, hospitality consultant, lecturer, columnist, event designer, and master host Alex Hitz.
In addition to the Garden Gala's annual luncheon, this year the Gala will have a second event for the first time. For the 10th anniversary celebration, the Columbus Botanical Garden has added their first ever Gala Dinner.
Aptly named for the Gala's featured guest, "Dinner with Alex" will be hosted at The Big Eddy and consist of a three course meal prepared by Hitz himself.
Celebrity chef and host Alex Hitz.
Image Courtesy of Columbus Botanical Garden.
Hitz will also serve as the featured speaker at the Gala luncheon earlier in the day. The luncheon will begin at 10:30 a.m. and feature a Market Place in the Bunker Room. Dinner with Alex will take place later that evening at 6 p.m. at The Big Eddy and will begin with a cocktail hour.
A native of Atlanta, Hitz was raised to appreciate Southern hospitality and the traditions therein. He also spent an incredible amount of time at his family's home in France growing up, which led him to pursue culinary training in the French tradition from Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. It was this in-depth exposure to both the French and American cultures that helped to develop Hintz's refined, but approachable style. A style so intrinsically fused with an eclectic blend of hospitality and flavors it has garnered him the reputation as "The Ralph Lauren of food and wine."
While guests to the Gala's Dinner with Alex will have the honor of enjoying Hitz's most famous recipes, they will also get to mingle with the Botanical Garden's new Executive Director Stefan Bloodworth. Bloodworth is the former senior curator of the Sara P. Duke Gardens at Duke University - one of the top ten public gardens in the nation. Bloodworth recently assumed his position as Executive Director on October 1, so this will be the first opportunity for locals to get to meet him and hear his ideas for the Garden's future.
Stefan Bloodworth, new Executive Director for the Columbus Botanical Gardens.
While the Garden Gala's two events are considered a part of the Gala, it us helpful for guests to know that each event is ticketed separately. All proceeds raised will go toward beautifying and maintaining the Garden, and growing its increasing educational programming aimed at teaching the importance of appreciating nature at every age.
For more information on The Columbus Botanical Garden or their 10th Annual Garden Gala, visit their website or call 706-327-8400. ◼︎
If You Go:
What: Garden Gala 2018, 10th Annual Gala for Columbus Botanical Garden
When: October 16, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Green Island Country Club Cost: $25 – $175 Reserve tickets here!