 Chef Pia Van Coutren, center, will provide cooking demonstrations at this weekend's Down East Holiday Show. Also pictured are Ken Jeffries, a store manager for Kroger (which is sponsoring Chef Pia's appearances along with WITN TV), and Dewey Grubb, a member of PCC's Institutional Advancement staff who helps organize the Holiday Show. |
WINTERVILLE�Organizers of the Pitt Community College Foundation Down East Holiday Show say Chef Pia Van Coutren will be on hand during this weekend�s event to provide holiday entertainment and cooking tips. The 7th Annual Holiday Show will take place Nov. 7-9 at the Greenville Convention Center. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Van Coutren, who specializes in Greek and Mediterranean dishes and has more than 30 years of culinary experience, owns and operates restaurants in Washington and New Bern. Formerly the chef at Christine�s Restaurant in the Greenville Hilton, she and her son, John, were also instructors at the Spice Bouquet Cooking School for several years. WITN-TV and Kroger have teamed to sponsor Chef Pia�s Holiday Show appearances. Her cooking demonstrations will take place in WITN�s booth at the event with Kroger providing the food and cooking equipment. Holiday Show organizers say Van Coutren will make presentations between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. PCC Foundation members have been planning this weekend�s Holiday Show fundraiser since the close of last year�s event. More than 100 exhibits will be set up at the Convention Center this weekend for shoppers to find unique gifts for their loved ones along with items needed to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. The show will also feature appearances by Santa Claus and �Hubby Parking,� an area set aside for husbands (and anyone else) in need of a break from shopping. Holiday Show organizers say the event has become well-known throughout Eastern North Carolina as a fun way to kick off the holiday shopping season. Some of the items for sale during the event include art, music, jewelry, decorations and accessories. �It�s a great way to spend a day with family or friends while getting a head start on your Christmas shopping,� said Dewey Grubb, a member of PCC�s Institutional Advancement staff who helps organize the show each year. Tickets are $6 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12 years old and free for those five and under. Proceeds from the Holiday Show are used to fund student scholarships and educational activities at PCC. |