When the big white tent with several smaller tents behind it goes up on the lawn at Upper Creek, the Chapman home on Pepper Creek in Susan Mathews County, on Sept. 28, the 15th annual Bay School Fine Arts Auction, "Unmask the Arts," will almost be ready to begin. The evening’s agenda calls for silent auctions, live auctions, introductions, open bar, hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner.

Guests will be milling in and around the big tent, but in those smaller tents is where the real action is. Wesley Holland and his staff of 10 will be preparing and serving the main course and all its trimmings, the real feature at this spectacular event.

Wes, a native Virginian who lived in Gloucester for 25 years but now resides in Goochland, came to the catering business in 2005 with a great deal of experience in the culinary arts. He is pleased to say, "I’m working for myself not someone else." And like so many other good chefs, it wasn’t what he started out to be.

Wes e...