Sharp Knives, Loud Laughs: CKP's March 2026 Guest Chef Dinner Featuring Desarae Legros and Alekka Sweeney

Join us for an unforgettable Guest Chef Dinner where bold Southern flavor meets modern balance.

Content creator, Chef Desarae Legros (aka, "Cooking, Comedy, and Chaos" with 1 million+ followers on all social platforms combined), known for her cooking comedy, candid storytelling, and wildly-relatable kitchen chaos, is teaming up with Chef Alekka Sweeney, the classically-trained "Red-Haired Culinary Firecracker", for their first collaborative dinner event!

The menu is rooted in Chef Alekka's soulful cooking -- comfort-forward, flavorful, and deeply intentional -- with a healthier twist shaped by Desarae’s personal weight loss journey and commitment to healthier, more balanced eating. Together, they’ll prove that Southern food can still bring the comfort and the flavor, with thoughtful twists that don’t sacrifice satisfaction.

You can expect great food, laughter, and a high-energy atmosphere that blends chef-driven craft with creator-led creativity as these two amazing women volunteer their time and talents to work alongside our culinary students to prepare and present this multicourse dinner experience to remember.

There may even be a couple special guests Pittsburgh foodies may recognize assisting in the kitchen!

As with all CKP Guest Chef Dinners, proceeds directly support our culinary jobs training program, creating pathways to employment and opportunity through food.

Come for the food. Stay for the vibes.

And we hope you'll leave with a happy belly and a warm heart knowing your seat at the table helped strengthen our community.

This event will take place at our facility in Hazelwood on Wednesday, March 25th, beginning at 5:30pm ET.

MENU*:
*allergens/sensitivities include dairy, gluten

FIRST COURSE | Charred Green Tomato Salad
Charred Green Tomatoes tossed in a protein-enhanced remoulade sauce with crispy golden breadcrumbs, herbed oil, and fried shallots.

SECOND COURSE | Creamy Crab Bisque - Dairy Free!
A creamy bisque that's actually dairy-free! This soup is transformed into a nutrient-dense and hearty dish.

THIRD COURSE | Nashville Hot Chicken & Waffles
Nashville Hot chicken and waffle sandwich made on protein waffles with homemade pickles and honey on the side. Served with high protein Macaroni and cheese!

FINAL COURSE | Alekka’s Bread pudding
Served with housemade protein ice cream.

A LITTLE ABOUT CHEF DESARAE:

Desarae Legros is a chef, content creator, and wellness advocate who blends real food, real life, and real humor across her social media platforms. With a background in professional kitchens, she creates accessible, fitness-forward meals while promoting consistency over restriction and education over trends.
After overcoming significant physical challenges and periods of disability, Desarae transformed her health through strength training, nutrition, and mindset work, leading to substantial weight loss and a renewed purpose.

As the creator of "Cooking, Comedy, and Chaos", she uses storytelling and coach-style accountability to empower others to cook more, move with intention, and start before they feel ready.

Desarae is deeply passionate about community impact and proudly supports Community Kitchen Pittsburgh for its mission of providing free culinary jobs training and second chances through skill-based empowerment.

A LITTLE ABOUT CHEF ALEKKA:

Chef Alekka Sweeney is a dynamic Pittsburgh-based chef, cooking coach, and private chef with more than 25 years of culinary and pastry experience. Classically-trained at Le Cordon Bleu and a graduate of the PA institute for the Culinary Arts, Chef Alekka's industry experience is filled with restaurants, teaching, private chef work, catering, and more.

Known for her bold flavors, engaging personality, and passion for making cooking fun and approachable, Chef Alekka has spent over 15 years leading baking, cooking, pastry, and kids' cooking classes. As a Resident Chef on KDKA's "Talk Pittsburgh", she brings skill, confidence, and fun to kitchens across the region.

Whether she's crafting custom private dinners, leading interactive classes, or creating unforgettable event menus, Chef Alekka brings skill, creativity, and personality to every plate.

SEATING:

We'll be assigning seats prior to the event. If you would like to be seated with guests who have purchased their tickets separately, please email us with the name(s) of the guest(s) who purchased their ticket(s) and the number in their party. Email info@ckpgh.org with "March Guest Chef Seating" in the subject.

PLEASE NOTE that this is fixed menu, and while we do our best to accommodate guests regarding food allergies, menu substitutions may not be possible. Please keep in mind that our kitchen is not a nut-free facility.

If you have food allergies and would still like to attend, please contact us (info@ckpgh.org with "March Guest Chef Dinner Allergy Inquiry" in the subject) with your allergy concern before purchasing your tickets to confirm that we can accommodate.

A Little About Our Guest Chef Dinners:

In our commercial training kitchen, our Signature Guest Chef Dinner Series gives our culinary jobs training students the opportunity to work with chefs from across Pittsburgh. While working alongside our Guest Chefs, our adult students gain valuable work experience and perhaps new techniques from the chefs, who are volunteering their time and talents for the event.

As one of our social enterprises, proceeds from these dinner events support our program, helping us change lives as we provide NO-COST Culinary Jobs Training to community members who may be facing barriers to employment.

When you purchase your ticket to a Guest Chef Dinner, your dollars make change.

PARKING & ENTRANCES: