Jesper Jonsson, a chef and culinary instructor, will demonstrate his skills as the featured celebrity chef at Edesia,  a benefit event in Palisade combining fine food and drink.

“We are excited to have Chef Jonsson spearhead our culinary activities this year,” said Jack Ballenger, food and beverage manager at the Wine Country Inn.

Edesia is scheduled for March 29 at the Wine Country Inn, 777 Grande River Drive. The event will include a VIP luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the main event from 1 to 5 p.m.

Tickets to the VIP luncheon sell for $125 and also include admission to the main event. Tickets to the main event alone sell for $75. For tickets or more information, visit the Web site at www.edesiapalisade.com.

Named for the Roman goddess of fine food and drink, Edesia serves as a benefit for the Marillac Clinic, which provides health care services to uninsured Mesa County residents with low and moderate incomes.

Jonsson serves as a chef educator at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder. He also worked as executive chef at Randolph’s at the Warwick Hotel in Denver and owned a restaurant in Meeker. He trained in France at both Auguste Escoffier and the Universite Paul Valery.

At Edesia, Jonsson will create and prepare the menu for the VIP luncheon and participate in chef demonstrations.

Jonsson will be joined by Josh Niernberg, executive chef and owner of Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction; Tronette Alexander, pastry chef at the Wine Country Inn; and Graham Mitchell, executive chef at the August Escoffier School in Boulder.