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| The Winning Bite - a deconstructed banh mi sandwich |
The American Culinary Federation and the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival are proud to announce the winners of this year's Chef of the Fest Competition Presented by Creekstone Farms, an annual competition that brings chefs head-to-head in a culinary competition judged by the San Diego Chapter for the American Culinary Federation. Top honors and the title of "Chef of the Fest" went to Chef Tommy Fraioli of Sea Rocket Bistro. During the Wine Spectator Celebrity Chef Luncheon & Live Auction on Sunday, November 18, the "Top 5" winners were announced to conclude the weeklong food and wine festival, said San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival co-producer Michelle Metter.
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| Top 3 - Tommy Fraioli - middle, Amy DiBiase - right, Jon Sloan - left |
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| The Judges!! |
Chef of the Fest Judges included:
- Chef Katherine Emmenegger, Lead Coordinator - Executive Chef, Great News Cooking School
- Chef Urs Emmenegger, Assistant Coordinator - Executive Chef/Chairman of the Board ACF, San Diego Chapter
- Chef Dustin Homen, ACF Judge - Executive Sous Chef, Barona Resort & Casino
- Chef Gary Thompson, ACF Judge - Executive Chef and Hamilton Meats Associate
- Chef Kurt Wafler, ACF Judge - Executive Chef Instructor San Diego Culinary Institute
- Chef Steve McDonagh, Celebrity Chef Judge - Cookbook author/Co-owner of HEARTY in Chicago
- Chef Dan Smith, Celebrity Chef Judge - Cookbook author/Co-owner of HEARTY in Chicago
- Chef Suzette Gresham, Celebrity Chef Judge - Chef/Owner of Acquerello in San Francisco
- Chef Gale Gand, Celebrity Chef Judge - Partner/Executive Pastry Chef of TRU in Chicago
"This is the pinnacle event for foodies and wine enthusiasts," said Chef Katherine Emmenegger, lead coordinator for the judging. "Each year local San Diego chefs combine innovation and talent to create show-stopping delicacies in the Chef of the Fest Competition. Our judges carefully rate each dish on its own merits with the highest scoring dish taking the prize. The competition was fierce."
The 2012 Chef of the Fest Competition results are as follows:
1st Place Grand Prize Winner
Tommy Fraioli - Sea Rocket Bistro
Deconstructed Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwich including Pork Cheek, Jalapeño, Cilantro, Carrots, Cucumbers, and Daikon
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| Chef Amy DiBiase's dish |
Amy DiBiase - The Shores Restaurant
Lightly Smoked Loch Ezite Steel Head Salmon with Beat Relish, Local Citrus, and Horseradish Cooked Fresh
3rd Place Winner
Jon Sloan - Roy's Restaurant
Surf & Turf "Ramen" Style: Berkshire Pork Belly, Nori-Shrimp Sheet, Ramen/Dashi Broth Gel, Various Accompaniments
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| Roy's 3rd Place offering |
Anthony Sinsay - Burlap
Cider Poached Sweet Bread, Apple Kimchee, Apple Puree, Rosemary "Smoke," Julian Apple in Textures
5th Place Winner
Scott Thomas Dolbee - Kitchen 1540
Creekstone Farms Beef Rib Eye Carpaccio, Smoked Albacore, Cheese Cracker, Chow Chow
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| Chef Sinsay's 4th place dish |
Dustin Anselm - Jake's Del Mar
Seared Sea Scallop, Bacon Scented Dashi, Shitake Mushroom, Butternut Puree, Pickled Mustard Seeds, and Sea Beans
7th Place Winner
Neil Dandekar - Vela Restaurant
Crispy Pork Terrine with Marrow Butter, Micro Mustard, Apple Salad, and Local Julian Apple Sauce
8th Place Winner
Aron Schwartz - Marina Kitchen
Makers Mark Milkshake: Bourbon, Ice Cream, Homemade Caramel Sauce, and Brandt Beef Bacon
9th Place Winner
Stephen Window - Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Lobster Tiger Shrimp Shu Mai, Ogo Salad Coconut Broth
10th Place Winner
Nicholas Bour - Rancho Bernardo Inn
Suckling Pig Terrine with Lillet Gelée and Pickled Vegetables
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| Vegetarian Winner |
Eric Bauer - Veladora
Charred & Roasted Baby Sweet Pepper; Trio of Quinoa, House Made Farmers Cheese, Ramesco Sauce, Petite Herbs, Organic Olive Oil
Meat Category Winner
Tommy Fraioli - Sea Rocket Bistro
Poultry Category Winner
Javier Placentia - Romesco Baja Med
Black Mole Turkey Steamed Buns, Pickled Chayote and Preserved Kabocha Squash, Fermented Corn and Morita Chile Condiment
Seafood Category Winner
Amy DiBiase - The Shores Restaurant
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| Dessert Winner - Maker's Mark Milkshake! |
Aron Schwartz - Marina Kitchen
A combined $50,000 worth in cash and prizes were awarded to the Chef of the Fest Competition winners. First place winner Fraioli's walked away with a $1,000 cash prize awarded by Creekstone Farms. Other prize highlights included an invitation to headline the 2013 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, a feature in Cooking Light Magazine's The Dish, Taylor Guitar GS Mini Guitar, Lamborghini Corsa watch, Big Green EGG Outdoor Cooker with accessories, True Professional Wine Refrigeration Unit and round-trip airfare for two on Southwest Airlines.
The second place winner received $750 cash, a Chef of the Fest winner profile on NBCSanDiego.com, a Shun handcrafted knife from CookDazzle.com, Big Green EGG Outdoor Cooker with accessories, round-trip airfare for two on Southwest Airlines, and more. Additional prizes were awarded for forth through tenth place.
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| The People speak - Chef Jaison Burke |
The Chef of the Fest Competition was hosted by Big Green Egg and sponsored by Dining Out Magazine, Cooking Light Magazine, NBC7.com, CookDazzle.com, Shun, Southwest Airlines, True, Partagas, Taylor Guitar, Lamborghini, San Diego Magazine, and Sidney Frank.
The 10th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival will take place on November 13- 17, 2013. For more information, visit www.sandiegowineclassic.com.
