Meet the Chefs of Our Fifth Annual Chef's Dinner Auction
Join us and support our mission to empower our community through food and education.
The 5th Annual Chef’s Dinner Auction takes place Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the GenPro Building (Central States Fairgrounds) at 5:00 pm.
We are proud to bring this special evening to life, featuring delicious food samples and our first-ever Dessert Dash. You will also have a chance to bid and win a meal or experience prepared by our featured chefs.
Meet the chefs for the 2026 chef’s dinner auction
April Malik
Owner of Thai To-Go
April Malik teaches Culinary Arts ProStart at Stevens High School. Since 2010, she and her five daughters have owned and operated Rapid City’s Thai To-Go, a pre-order Thai food business, serving family-sized meals to-go. April gained her knowledge of Thai Cuisine from living in Thailand with her family for 5 years and being raised by her Thai step-mom, who graciously shared her knowledge. April speaks Thai and often visits her brother, who calls Thailand home. She loves offering hands-on experiences with food for guests to participate in and connect.
SAMPLING MENU
Spring rolls: chicken, shrimp, steak, or veggie, with dipping sauces
UP FOR AUCTION
A hands-on culinary adventure! "Roll Your Own" Spring/Salad Thai Rolls class at Someone's In The Kitchen. Invite friends and family for a fun, interactive experience for 12–15 guests (Saturday daytime only)
Brad Baker
Owner of Honey-Do BBQ
Brad has had a passion for barbecue his whole life. The craft, the patience, and the flavor you can create with smoke and fire have always been a part of who Brad is. After years of honing his skills, he started competing in Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) events and has been fortunate enough to take home top honors at local and state BBQ festival cook-offs. Brad’s proudest moment came in 2021 when his ribs won 1st place against a field of seven former World Champions. It was an incredible experience and one he’ll never forget.
While barbecue is his main passion, Brad’s life outside the smokehouse is just as full. He runs a successful sheep farm and helps operate his family's ranch and cattle operation. When it's time to unwind, you can find Brad ice fishing. He loves the quiet and the challenge of it, and he is proud to participate in Hooked on Hardwater, a collaboration with The Club for Boys. When Brad’s not on the ice, you can find him on the trails—mountain and gravel biking are a great way for him to clear his head and get out in nature.
SAMPLING MENU
Brisket sliders
UP FOR AUCTION
Gather the crew for an unforgettable Spring/Summer BBQ for 20, complete with a live ribs & chicken wing cooking demo (blackout: July 4, 2027)
Randy Brown
Chef at Fork Real Café
Randy Brown has always had a passion for serving others through good food. At 54, he's grateful simply to be happy and healthy, and he takes real pride in his ability to make people laugh no matter what kind of day it's been. A self-described "jack of most trades," Randy brings a wide range of skills to everything he does.
Randy's history with Fork Real runs deep, and he's long admired the organization's mission and its power to bring people together through food and community. He joined the staff through a combination of good timing and a chance encounter: Rhonda found him working at a local restaurant, reached out, and told him she thought he'd be a great fit for the team. The more he learned about the opportunity, the more it felt like the right place for him, and he was glad to accept the position.
SAMPLING MENU
Smoked gator & gumbo
UP FOR AUCTION
A one-of-a-kind Southern feast! Smoked gator, gumbo & peach cobbler for up to 12, served right at the Café or dropped off at a preferred location!
Lukas Cann, Dave Pearcy, and the Fork Real Café Food Truck!
The Fork Real food truck hit the streets in 2022 to help reach the community with the pay-what-you-can opportunities.
Since then, they have connected with the food truck community by serving at Canyon Lake’s Family Food Truck Tuesday Nights as well as BH Harley’s Spring/Fall Fest.
SAMPLING MENU
Lukas’s favorite Chicken Alfredo
UP FOR AUCTION
Have the Fork Real Food Truck come to your home or business! Feeding up to 30 people with two food choices. (Available May – September, 2027)
Jana & Paul Shankle + Food by Rhonda Pearcy
Paul and Jana are empty nesters who love spending time with their adult kids and enjoying life in the beautiful Black Hills. Paul’s Air Force career took them on many adventures, moving 15 times across 3 countries and 6 states before he retired. After all those moves, they feel especially blessed to call the Black Hills home for the past 13+ years!
Food by Fork Real Café’s own Rhonda Pearcy!
SAMPLING MENU
Strawberry s'mores and/or salad
UP FOR AUCTION
A magical evening at the cottage. Dinner and strawberry s'mores by Hermosa Creek
Jeff Slathar
ACF Certified Pastry Chef
Jeff is professionally trained and a certified Chef by industry standards — the American Culinary Federation. His passion is to prepare food properly, creatively, appealingly, and safely.
SAMPLING MENU
Dessert flambé
UP FOR AUCTION
An intimate, restaurant-quality 5-course table-side dinner experience
Karen Anagnostopulos
Owner of Karen A's Charcuterie
Karen creates stunning, unique, and fresh grazing boards & tables for all sorts of special events and parties.
SAMPLING MENU
Charcuterie mini cups
UP FOR AUCTION
A beautifully curated charcuterie spread to share with 20 of your favorite people
Pat Bilek
SAMPLING MENU
Spatzel
UP FOR AUCTION
Learn how to make Spatzel during this Cooking Class for up to 8 people at the Café! (Available July – August 2027)
Fred Ferrara
Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Educator
Chef Fred Ferrara is a Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Educator through the American Culinary Federation and a 1968 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. With more than 60 years in the hospitality industry, including 30 years as a culinary educator, his career has taken him across the country and around the world.
Chef Ferrara has earned awards in culinary competitions and has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts. Through his popular “Chef in Your Home” and “Culinary Class” live-auction experiences in Illinois, he has helped charitable organizations raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.
Fred and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for 38 years and recently made the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota their new home. Chef Ferrara is delighted to bring his lifelong love of food, teaching, and giving back to his new Black Hills community.
SAMPLING MENU
Coming Soon
UP FOR AUCTION
A hands-on Caribbean Cuisine cooking class for eight (8) people held at Fork Real Community Café in Rapid City. Hands-on teams will make two (2) of the chefs’ favorite recipes: St Barts Callaloo and Jamaican Bombas de Camarones Papas.
A one-month lead time is required prior to the class.