a farm-to-table experience that will HELP TO fuel our growth
Chef Throwdown Benefiting Jones Gardens- September 21, 2026 @ 5:30pm (Location TBD)
Jones Gardens invites Virginia chefs to apply for a friendly Farm-to-Table Chef Throwdown, featured as part of a lively, ticketed fundraising dinner celebrating local food, farms, and community. Each selected chef will be paired with a Virginia farm and challenged to create a dish that highlights the farm’s ingredients and a thoughtful farm-to-table approach.
AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE:
Guests will enjoy the event as both entertainment and dining, tasting inspired dishes while cheering on chef–farm teams. Through an interactive culinary experience that celebrates Virginia’s local food system, we aim to advance equitable access to fresh, healthy food.
Participating chefs will each create a three-course menu highlighting the richness of our region’s agricultural landscape. Throughout the evening, guests will have the opportunity to engage directly with chefs, learn about the sourcing and preparation of their meals, and vote for their favorite dishes. The experience is designed to be immersive, educational, and community-driven—spotlighting the importance of supporting local agriculture and sustainable food practices.
Proceeds from this event will support the transformation of the former Newtown Baking and Kitchen in Staunton, Virginia into ZÜKA Cafe and Grocery, a new initiative of Jones Gardens. ZÜKA will operate as a community-centered cafe and affordable grocery designed to address food access gaps by offering fresh, nutritious meals and staple goods through a “pay-what-you-can” model. We also aim to offer cooking classes that focus on the importance of nutrient dense meal preparation. This approach ensures that all community members—regardless of income—can access high-quality, locally sourced food in a welcoming environment.
Through this model, those who are able to pay full price help offset the cost for others, creating a shared system of support that reduces stigma and increases dignity. In addition to prepared meals and groceries, ZÜKA will serve as a hub for food education, local farm partnerships, and community connection.
Support for this event helps strengthen regional food networks, uplift local farmers and chefs, and directly contributes to a sustainable solution for increasing food access in the Staunton community.
Contact with questions or inquiries: Sarah Jones (540) 480-0573 or [email protected]
Why We’re Doing This
At Jones Gardens, we believe food is more than nourishment—it’s connection, dignity, and community.
We grow fresh, organic produce within the neighborhoods we serve, making healthy food accessible while teaching sustainability, stewardship, and self-reliance. This Chef Throwdown brings together farmers, chefs, and neighbors to celebrate what’s possible when local food systems thrive.
By participating, chefs aren’t just cooking a dish—they’re helping tell a story about where food comes from, who it serves, and how powerful community-rooted agriculture can be. This event is about joy, creativity, and shared purpose—and we’re looking for chefs who want to be part of that impact.
We grow fresh, organic produce within the neighborhoods we serve, making healthy food accessible while teaching sustainability, stewardship, and self-reliance. This Chef Throwdown brings together farmers, chefs, and neighbors to celebrate what’s possible when local food systems thrive.
By participating, chefs aren’t just cooking a dish—they’re helping tell a story about where food comes from, who it serves, and how powerful community-rooted agriculture can be. This event is about joy, creativity, and shared purpose—and we’re looking for chefs who want to be part of that impact.