Haitian cuisine mingled with Southern Oregon specialties for Kids Unlimited’s 25th anniversary.

Celebrity chef Ron Duprat was an honored guest at KU’s annual benefit and auction. But the chef traveled from Texas to help put on a banquet befitting KU’s quarter-century in operation. KU food program staff and culinary students all pitched in for a memorable meal. Watch Chef Duprat at work and hear what he had to say about KU students’ impressive skills.

Chef Ron Duprat, right, poses with kitchen staff for Kids Unlimited’s 25fh anniversary banquet.

KU guests whet their appetites with Jamaican jerk meatballs served with chili-pineapple relish and maple-glazed, bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with cream cheese while sipping Red Lily wines and 10 Barrel beers. Fry Family Farm donated its organic mixed greens for the salad course, topped with fresh strawberries, candied walnuts and blue cheese provided by Rogue Creamery.

Chef Duprat’s signature Afro-Caribbean flavors were featured in the main dish of chicken breast marinated in lime juice and Creole spices with Haitian black mushroom rice cake. Dinner concluded with raspberry-garnished flourless chocolate torte cake, furnished by Sysco.

Chef Duprat’s entree featured chicken breast marinated in lime juice and Creole spices with Haitian black mushroom rice cake.

Recognized among the most influential Black chefs, Duprat has cooked for Usher, Beyonce and Jay-Z and President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama. A contributor to Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign, Chef Duprat also is affiliated with No Kid Hungry, World Central Kitchen, Black Culinarian Alliance and other nonprofit causes.

Chef Duprat has been a top competitor on Bravo TV and Food Network cooking contests. He has appeared on “The View,” “The Today Show” and “Access Hollywood” and in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Ebony, Oprah, Essence and other magazines. He currently works as the executive chef at Amarillo Golf and Country Club in Amarillo, Texas.