Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation Announces Return of Seacoast Culinary Challenge
Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation Announces Return of Seacoast Culinary Challenge on October 29
Local Chefs Compete to Raise Awareness and Funds to Combat Food Insecurity on the Seacoast
Portsmouth – Aug. 13, 2025 – 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.
“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.”
Top chefs competing in this year’s challenge include:
- 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.
The event 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, along with Chef David Vargas, James Beard Award nominee and chef/owner of Vida Cantina and Ore Nell’s Barbecue. Both are known not only for their culinary craft, but their unwavering commitment to community well-being.
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.
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. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 13 at Seacoast Culinary Challenge | Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation. For more information about the event, please visit culinary.lighthousecufoundation.org.