Chefs Gone Wild 2010
Chefs Gone Wild
On October 30th 2010 iCraveCatering participated in supporting the Girl Scouts of Citrus Counties annual Chefs Gone Wild Event.
Girl Scouts of Citrus Counties (GS of CC) serves more that 18,00 girls and serves Brevard, Lake, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia Counties. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character. One way GS of CC raises the funds needed to support its wonderful programs is through the Chefs Gone Wild Event which we were thrilled to have participated in this year. We competed in the Appetizer category creating a new and wonderful item specifically for this event.
Our creation was a Pacific Rim Duck on Toasted Buckwheat Cristini.
The Duck breast was marinated in a brine of Pineapple juice, Ponzu Sauce, and a touch of Molasses, then pan fried quickly to crisp the duck skin and finished in the oven until Medium Rare.
Once cooled the breast was sliced on the bias and placed on a toasted Buckwheat Cristini that had been lightly oiled and sprinkled with Hawaiian Red Sea Salt and topped with a Pomegranate Onion Relish.
The whole thing was then topped with a Pomegranate & Sake reduction with Micro Greens and Pomegranate Arils, to finish the dish it was dusted with charcoal smoked and plum flavored sesame seeds.
When people say that Food is about Pleasure, Joy, Flavor, and the experience of texture and taste they are talking about food like we created for this event.
This wonderful Appetizer presented all of the flavors and textures it takes to taste a fabulous dish, if you have every heard the term “it dances on you tongue” it refers to a dish that has all of the components and textures we can experience.
The duck had a richness of flavor, the toasted cristini had the chewy and crunchy components as well as the salty element we love. The onion relish and reduction and the sweet and slightly sour elements that we crave. The micro greens and pomegranate arils provided a slight bitterness to the dish. When one combines all of these elements in ones mouth and the balance is correct you get that whole mouth appeal and you are for that moment in love with food.
While we did not win first place I do know that 1st and second were separated by one vote and 2nd from 3rd by to votes so it sounds to me the real winners were the people who showed up to support the event, taste some wonderful food and provide the means that the CS of CC needs to keep affecting young girls in a positive way for 1 more year.
A few of the notable competitors entered in this years event included Chef Danial Rios of the J.W. Marriott /Ritz Carlton who has also appeared many times on Food Network Challenge, Chef Micheal Ortiz Sous Chef of Wolfgang Pucks Grand Cafe, and Chef Jeremy Mattson Executive Chef of Mitchel’s Fish Market.
See you next year and the 2011 Chefs Gone Wild event.
The Warriors in pre battle mode
Chef Anthony Delicately Preparing our Creation
iCrave Catering owner John Menendez with a couple of culinary student who each wish to one day own their own catering company as well.
It was a great event for all and the food was fantastic!