2009 Almost Famous Chef Competition
by Sophie Gayot
Well I told you I would keep you posted of what happened during the 7th “Almost Famous Chef” competition by Nestlé Waters North America under the Acqua Panna that took place in St. Helena, California on March 7th and 8th 2009.
Below are pictures of the “Signature Dish” competition, held on the second day, with the ten contestants prepping in the kitchen and showing us their creations before we judged them. With just a sous chef from The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, they had just four hours to cook two hundred plated tasting portions. to help
I was a judge along with eighteen others, including chef Michel Richard from Citronelle, and Gail Simmons, a regular judge on Bravo’s Top Chef. Hundreds of guests also got to taste and vote for the “People’s Choice” winner.
The winners are:
– “Overall Winner”: David Awad, from Connecticut Culinary Institute
– “Mystery Basket”; David Awad, from Connecticut Culinary Institute
– “Signature Dish”: Kendra Orng, from International Culinary School at The Art Institute California, Los Angeles
– “People’s Choice”: Joe Branton, Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College.
You can click on each photo to enlarge. (All photos by Sophie Gayot)
- #1 Jerome Rejano dish
- #1 Jerome Rejano prepping in the kitchen
- #1 Jerome Rejano by his sign
- #2 Lyssa Barrera dish
- #2 Lyssa Barrera prepping in the kitchen
- #2 Lyssa Barrera by her sign
- #3 WINNER OF THE DAY Kendra Orng dish
- #3 Kendra Orng prepping in the kitchen
- #3 WINNER OF THE DAY Kendra Orng by her sign
- #4 Daniel Agregaard dish
- #4 Daniel Agregaard prepping in the kitchen
- #4 Daniel Agregaard by his sign
- #5 Gerardo Avalos dish
- #5 Gerardo Avalos prepping in the kitchen
- #5 Gerardo Avalos by his sign
- #6 Erik Powers prepping in the kitchen
- #6 Erik Powers by his sign
- #6 Erik Powers dish
- #7 PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER Joe Branton prepping in the kitchen
- #7 PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER Joe Branton dish
- #7 Joe Branton by his sign
- #8 David Awad dish
- #8 WINNER David Awad prepping in the kitchen
- #8 David Awad by his sign
- #9 Francisco Lopez prepping in the kitchen
- #10 Jason Plato dish
- #10 Jason Plato by his sign
- #10 Jason Plato prepping in the kitchen
- Judges Gail Simmons from Bravo’s Top Chef and chef Michel Richard with Sophie Gayot