Last night I had the pleasure once again of enjoying FABULOUS food served by some of the most talented chefs in our area at the Puttin’ on the Dog dinner, a fundraiser for Saint Francis Service Dogs.

Saint Francis Service Dogs trains dogs to become life partners to adults and children with disabilities, neurological conditions and veterans returning from service in the wars. The organization, which provides these highly skilled dogs to clients free of charge, is 100 percent supported by donations and this annual dinner is one of its biggest fundraisers.

This was the fifth year my husband and I have attended this lovely event, which features seven courses donated and prepared by local chefs. Among the wonderful dishes served last night, we enjoyed a cumin-scented crab cake served with an amazing vegetable ceviche (made by Jeff Doudiken of the Bonsack Kroger chef shop), a light and delicious beer and cheddar soup made by Chris Dye from Blue 5 restaurant), a refreshing quinoa salad (from Chef Prem Nath of Taaza and Elephant Walk restaurants) and a fantastic duo of lamb prepared by Aaron Deal, who is the chef at the new River and Rail restaurant set to open in South Roanoke next month.

If all this food talk is making you hungry, you can still enjoy some really great food and help a worthy cause.

A week from Saturday, April 28,  is the 11th annual Puppy Love Ball, an event that raises money for the Roanoke Valley SPCA. The event is held at The Hotel Roanoke and features dining stations (with some wonderful appetizers, entrees and desserts), a live band and dancing. Though I love to bust a few moves, a bum knee will keep me sidelined this year, darn it.

The event is a blast and my husband and I look forward to it each year. Each year the ballroom is decorated with pictures of pets adopted from the RVSPCA, and this year our Stormy’s smiling mug will be among the alumni photos.

We adopted Stormy as a wee pup from the SPCA in 2008.

Click here, call 339-9502 or email Kathy Perdue (kperdue@rvspca.org) for ticket information.