Hotel Saxonburg's Alan Green garners the award for Peoples Choice overall favorite chef at the recent Glass Slipper Ball. The more than 500 guests based their votes on Green's Belgian endive finger salad and crab cakes. The event was hosted by the service organization Zonta Club of Three Rivers Pittsburgh North.

SAXONBURG — Hotel Saxonburg executive chef Alan Green's Belgian endive finger salad and crab cakes were judged best overall at a recent cooking competition.

Green was named overall favorite chef at the ninth annual Glass Slipper Ball at the Four Points Sheraton in Marshall Township, Allegheny County.

“The crab cakes are my special recipe that I have been using for years,” said Green. “And the finger salad is something I've used for catering. It's something that I've used at the hotel, too.”

For Green, who worked at the Hotel Saxonburg for 18 years before leaving to work at the Springfield Grille in Cranberry Township and then returning to the hotel two years ago, it was his fourth time in the competition and his first win. The Glass Slipper Ball on March 31 featured dozens of restaurants whose chefs created signature hors d'oeuvres and desserts designed specifically for this event.

“There were certainly a bunch of them, some real heavy hitters,” Green said. “But this was the best time obviously because I won the darn thing.”

Those attending voted for their favorite dish.

Other prizes included best appetizer to John Marshall Catering and best dessert to Bartram House.

The Glass Slipper Ball had over 550 attendees and raised more than $50,000 for women's scholarships that are distributed to agencies such as Crisis Center North, Girls Hope and North Hills Community Outreach through the Zonta Pittsburgh North Foundation.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of this year's event and are already making big plans for our 10th anniversary next March,” said Cindy Yingling, event co-chairman.

Zonta International is a global service organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. Zonta currently has more than 33,000 members in 67 countries.

The Zonta Club of Three Rivers Pittsburgh North focuses on educational needs of women and girls. Through the Zonta Pittsburgh North Foundation, the club's philanthropic arm, proceeds are directed to support scholarships, education and projects benefiting women and their families, both locally and globally. Additionally, scholarships are given directly to a local high school student and a LaRoche College business major.

The Pittsburgh North chapter meets the second Wednesday of every month at Fresco's in Wexford.