LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas is known for its lights and late nights but we also have some of the best restaurants in the world! On Wednesday, foodies from the valley gathered for the Chef Battle. Samantha Thomas traveled Around Town and got a chance to see just what this Battle of the Best Chefs was about.
PHOTOS: Local chefs compete in Chef Battle at Hofbrauhaus
The culinary cookoff travels nationally to different cities, featuring local chefs who compete by creating their best dish, in only one hour. I emceed this Inaugural Cookoff as it stopped in Las Vegas, welcoming six local chefs, and over 100 guests inside the lively Hofbrauhaus restaurant.
The chefs:
* Amirah Brown, Independent Chef
* Peter Rochford, Independent Chef
* Oscar Sanchez, Executive Chef/Owner of Oscar Catering
* Will Staten, Chef/Owner of Ragin’ Cajun Cookin’
* Jon VanHusen, Private Chef/Chef Consultant
* Amanda Woodward, Banquet Sous Chef, Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Guests were able to watch the Chefs race to the Secret Pantry, grab ingredients, and get to preparing their dishes. Once they were done a panel of four experienced food judges including Master Chef Season 7 Winner, Chef Shaun O’Neal, rated the plates based on food, flavor, and more.
With only one hour on the clock to complete the chefs put their best cooking skills forward to create the dishes. Some of the evenings fare ranged from Pork Belly, Turkey Meatball Medallions, and Striped Bass, and Jambalaya, all made from scratch. After completing the dishes, Judges then got a chance to taste each plate, while guests sampled all the dishes.
To cap off the event the crowd cast their ballots for “Crowd’s Choice,” which went to Chef Jon VanHusen, who prepared Pork Belly with Beer Braised Fall Vegetables, topped with a Chinese Hot Mustard ver blanc.
The evening’s overall award went to Chef Oscar Sanchez who prepared a light, but heavily flavored Stripe Bass with Vegetarian Quinoa, and an Avocado Parsley sauce.
Chef Oscar will now go on to compete in the West Coast Regionals this November in Anaheim, California. All nationwide winners will then compete in the All-American Chef Battle in early 2020.
So far, Chef Battle has traveled to 10 Cities including San Diego, Spokane, Kansas City, Missouri, and even Hawaii. The Social Power Hour Team (creators of Chef Battle) says this culinary challenge has plans to travel to at least 50 states this year.
