Spices and exotic recipes, sour and sweet, green and orange and red and wild game, spicy ham, paper thin beef tenderloin, white spring asparagus, Maya chocolate, kiwi, mango and fine wine fit precisely for each course selection is a treasured combination of fare best suited to highly refined appetite presented and served on a night meant to nourish The Nest - A Child Advocacy Center located in Cortez.

Tess Montano, co-owner with her father, Pete, of Pepperhead restaurant, created the idea of a gourmet moving feast that highlights the talents and creative urges of the three finest chefs she knows - her dad, Hubbard and Shubert. She presented it to the board of directors at The Nest and the idea hit the pavement at high speed.

The event menu is designed with the collaboration of all three chefs bringing their fondest desire to cook fine food and present to the community.

It is, according to Hubbard, "A rare opportunity. And yes Pepperhead and Stonefish restaurants are giving up our Saturday night business for a good cause. It also gives us a chance to cook the exotic food we all want to make, treat the community to the best they have ever known here."

The five course dining extravaganza offers appetizers in the Vacant Space at  34 W. Main St. in Cortez and then requests guests move east down the block to 16 W. Main at 6:30 for courses 2 and 3 at Stonefish Sushi & More where two entrées and side dishes include chili seared scallops, carpachio, ratatouille timbali and butternut soup. Again select wines will accompany the seated fine dining. At 7:30 the gourmet dinner moves again, this time to Pepperhead, 44 W Main, for the final entrée. Elk loin roast chops in pinot noir balsamic reduction, a Spanish Flamenco Roll recipe combining Cajun Ham and asparagus will be followed by desert.

"The collaboration has been great fun," says Shubert. "It gives us a chance to create a menu outside of our theme-based restaurants. Our combined culinary expertise surpasses 75 years, but our concern for the community is timeless. We are honored to participate."

Flavors have been selected to compliment the rich flavors of the evening and satisfy the embellishments offered to patrons of the culinary arts. According to Tess Montano, "The nourishment we find in food is the most basic language we speak. Through this event we are matching comfort of fine cuisine to the safety and healing of abused children who benefit from The Nest. It is the best way."

Rose Jergens, Executive Director of The Nest - A Child Advocacy Center is ecstatic with the opportunity to open a new base of supporters. "The idea of connecting a culinary feast to benefit child advocacy will open the possibility of educating and reaching a different group of supporters. We provide a nurturing environment for safe transitions as we begin to replenish abused children whose childhood has been robbed. It is a perfect benefit event for us. We are looking forward to the grace of the evening."

Seating is limited due to the maximum occupancy offered in each space. The one hundred dollar price is far below market value for a five course gourmet meal prepared by three Chef de cuisines.

Tickets, at that price, are a deal - a chance comparable to visiting an urban art museum, a chance to feel sensations filled by a palette of rich color, taste and aroma and a chance to feed the soul. It is an evening that gastronomic dreams are made of because the combination of skill brought to the collaboration makes it possible to explore a broad culinary expertise.

Tickets are available at Pepperhead, 44 W. Main St. (970) 565-3303, and Stonefish Sushi & More, 16 W. Main St. (970) 565-9244. For information about The Nest Child Advocacy Center visit: www.nestcac.org