A Dramatic finale for the Sears Chef Challenge!

What a finale… Chef Alex Dino, representing New York, and hometown favorite, Chef Mark Maassen, along with support chefs John Murphy and Ronnie Aleman chopped and sizzled their way into our hearts last Thursday night at the Kenmore Live Studio in down town Chicago. After shopping and prepping the day before, (see last post) our chefs hit the stoves with a “Quick Bite” challenge, creating a first course with traditional Thanksgiving ingredients. Chef Mark won that challenge with a turkey scaloppini style dish-take a look.


Our main event had the chefs incorporating 3 canned food items (hearts of palm, whole peeled tomatoes and northern beans), into their entrée.  The challenge was inspired from the SCC canned food drive, benefiting the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation.


Alex and Mark presented their dishes, and the winner….Chef Alex Dino-he WON! It was truly close, but his dish won the day. Just look at this plate: A small dish of tender octopus paired with creamy northern beans, a seared scallop with zucchini with and micro greens, a seared plank of hearts of palm draped with ahi tuna and ginger oil and a dessert of orange gelee.

Mark made a brilliant seared halibut dish with a seasonal ragout.

I wanted to taste it all! Both chefs already won $10,000 for their charities and a full suite of new appliances during the semi-finals.  Now, Alex adds a FULL KITCHEN MAKE OVER to is winnings and another $10,000 for the Food Bank of Central New York! www.searschefchallenge.com. What a finale!

Back on the home front, stay posted, Thursday I will share an original recipe “Oven Baked Stuffed Rolled Omelet” a dish I created to feed a crowd with style! You can taste it this Saturday as I cook for a crowd from 9 am until noon at our “Meet and Eat Listening Party” at Standards of Excellence in San Rafael at 530 West Francisco Blvd. Come and join us as I cook a brunch feast with the Miele Convection Oven, Steam Oven and Induction Cook Top.

I love induction even more than before (if that was possible)… modern, green and SAFE!