Mercato Ristorante and Bar won the Sixth Annual Chef’s Best competition at the West Chester University Alumni and Foundation Center, having received the most votes from attendees of last week’s event, which raised more than $31,000 for ACT in Faith of Greater West Chester.

Mercato’s winning menu featured:

• Cream of Asparagus Soup with a Mascarpone Drizzle Topped with Crabmeat
• Homemade Crab Ravioli with Mascarpone and Blue Claw Crab in Champagne Cream Sauce
• Short Rib Sliders Topped with a Light Creamed Horseradish Sauce

More than 180 guests also sampled specialties from Bangles Indian Cuisine, The Original Spence Café, and Side Bar and Restaurant. Emceed by Spoonful Magazine founder and publisher Kristina Erfe Pines, Chef’s Best offered silent auction items and desserts from Arianna’s, Cakes and Candies by Maryellen, Gemelli, and Yori’s Bakery.

All proceeds support ACT in Faith, a coalition of diverse faith communities that bridges gaps in social services. The organization provides eviction and utility shut-off prevention, employment support services, and stocks a Community Cupboard, which provides personal care and household items, as well as dry food goods and homemade frozen meals.

“Through the support of individuals and local businesses, ACT in Faith is able to help more people in our community every year. And Chef’s Best is a big part of that support,” said ACT in Faith Board President Denise Antonelli, a partner at Gawthrop Greenwood. “This year’s event was our biggest to date, and we are so grateful to the restaurants, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who made it happen. We’re looking forward to next year, when Mercato will have the chance to defend its title.”

Gawthrop Greenwood was the lead sponsor of the event which also received generous support from DNB First, Brandywine Catering, Connelly & Moore Wealth Management Group, Fig West Chester, Morton Family Law, Sabir Law Group, Sun East Charitable Foundation, TGS Financial Advisors, and The Town Dish.