The third annual “Chef Showdown: Taking a Stand Against Domestic Violence” showcased top local chefs in a highly entertaining culinary competition at the Courtyard of the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park on October 4th from 6-9 p.m. The event was co-sponsored this year by Viejas and Kashi.
The Chef Showdown event attracted more than 400 people while raising more than $90,000 to support CCS’s diverse domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and intervention programs. The fundraiser, which honors October as National Domestic Violence Awareness month, featured two teams of five chefs each from top San Diego restaurants, including co-captains Paul McCabe, J. Taylor’s at L’Auberge Del Mar and Amy Dibiase at Baleen; Wade Hageman, Blanca; Neil Clooney, Isabel’s Cantina; Jeff Rossman, Terra; Colin MacLaggan, Avenue 5; Damon Gordon, Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy Hotel; James Clark, Croce’s; Augie Saucedo, The Shores; and Dawn Tangeman, Wild Thyme.
In an approach similar to the Food Network’s widely popular “Iron Chef” show, the chefs were given a limited amount of time to create appetizers, entrees and desserts from “secret ingredients,” which were unveiled at the start of the competition and included Mahi Mahi, Dragon fruit along with assorted sweet spreads. Lively commentary was provided by co-hosts Bernard Guillas, executive chef of the Marine Room; and Emmy award winner Sam Zien, who now hosts the Discovery Health television show, “Just Cook This with Sam the Cooking Guy.” 10 News anchor Lee Ann Kim emceed this highly entertaining event.
A panel of celebrity judges and well-known food critics sampled unique dishes before selecting the winning team, led by Paul McCabe of J. Taylor’s, with highly creative entries, such as Olive oil poached Mahi Mahi, with artichoke-fennel salad, crunchy olives and olive oil mousse served with a dragon fruit martini; pan-seared Mahi Mahi with squash and tomato ratatouille, glazed carrots, sherry vinegar-infused maple syrup with fried baby artichokes; a duo of raviolis comprising corn, pear and bleu cheese with peanut cream sauce as well as herbed goat cheese with sherry and pancetta vinaigrette; baked Mahi Mahi with sherry red wine reduction, boniato and shaved truffle and finished off with an English peanut butter and jelly, featuring brioche soaked in egg batter served with Thai peanut spread, dragon fruit preserves and jalapeno vanilla caramel. Other members of McCabe’s winning team included Damon Gordon, Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy Hotel ; James Clark, Croce’s; Augie Saucedo, The Shores; and Dawn Tangeman, Wild Thyme.
According to Verna Griffin-Tabor, executive director at Center for Community Solutions, this annual event is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness while extending CCS’s reach into the community. “We are so grateful for the widespread support of San Diego’s top restaurants and chefs along with our many supporters who are helping us end the cycles of violence that affect our city,” she said. “We are proud to announce that this year’s fundraiser raised nearly twice as much as last year’s event, giving us the opportunity to deliver more services to people and families in need.”
As the only rape crisis center in the city of San Diego and a major provider of sexual assault and domestic violence services throughout the county for more than 37 years, CCS helps more than 27,000 local residents each year.
