A Night to Remember: Honored by Champion Autism Network at the Night of Champions Dinner
- Chef Jamie Daskalis
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Last month's Champion Autism Network's, Night of Champions Dinner was a truly unforgettable evening. I find myself thinking about it often. I was deeply honored to be recognized for my work and compassion for the autism community. As a mom to my incredible son James and someone who strives every day to create more inclusive spaces, this recognition means the world to me. The days leading up to the event, I was feeling a little nervous and undoubtedly excited. Upon entering the hall at St. Johns at the Greek Orthodox Church, any nerves I felt instantly vanished. I couldn't help but feel all the love and excitement in the room. The energy as the room filled up was felt so deeply in my soul. I was elated to see how the community showed up to support Champion Autism Network and myself.
The event showcased some of the Grand Strand’s hottest chefs and newest culinary talent. This industry is all about hospitality and camaraderie... On this night it was felt. Every chef in the room was there for the same reasons. First and foremost to show support to Champion Autism Network. At the same time, they were there for one another- and maybe to flex a little culinary muscle. The food at this years event certainly shined a bright light on that muscle. Each dish I savored, left me feeling incredibly blessed and humbled. The amazing talent was felt throughout the room as these chefs brought the flavor. I am so grateful for each of their support for a cause I am so passionate about. Alongside the delicious dishes, four incredible mixologists crafted signature cocktails that kept the energy high and spirits lifted.
Raffle prizes added extra excitement, and the crowd was buzzing with friendly competition and community support. The People’s Choice Award went to one of the newer restaurants in our area—The Bohemian Bull in Garden City. Their Cuban sandwich won the hearts (and tastebuds) of the crowd, and they also took home the Mixology Award for their bold and creative Bite the Bullet Cocktail. Talk about making a debut!
As part of the evening, a short tribute video was played that featured a few clips from my first Chef Swap at The Beach appearance, where I spoke about my journey with autism, my son, and the work we’ve done to build a more inclusive restaurant experience. The video also included beautiful, emotional messages from friends and colleagues about what they admire most about me. I’m not crying, you’re crying…
As the evening benefited Champion Autism Network (CAN), an organization doing powerful work to build autism-friendly communities through awareness, education, and partnerships. At the end of my acceptance speech, I was proud to stand alongside Chef Jason from JEM Social as we presented a very surprised, Becky Large, CEO of CAN, with a donation raised through a recent cooking competition we participated in (More on that coming later this year.) Becky’s advocacy continues to make a lasting impact, and it was an honor to support her work in this way.
I left the event filled with gratitude—not just for the award, but for the incredible community I’m blessed to be a part of. The night was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together with purpose, heart, and a shared commitment to making a difference.
Thank you to Champion Autism Network for the recognition, and to everyone who continues to support and uplift this mission. Let's plan to make next years event the greatest yet!
A list of the participating restautants/Chefs: When deciding where to dine out, consider supporting these local restaurants and chefs.
Wow, what an incredible evening! Congrats Chef!