Omni Mandalay Hotel Kicks off First Annual Gridiron Chef Classic (United States)
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                Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States 									 - Gourmet restaurants 
								 - Gourmet restaurants  
                This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on  Tuesday 26 August 2008
                
   Dallas/Philadelphia Rivalry Taken to the Kitchen in a Cook-off Benefiting the James Beard Foundation 
 
James LoCascio, Chris Vogeli, 
Matthew Levin and Fitzgerald Dodd -- just a few of the renowned chefs who 
will stir up excitement at The Omni Mandalay Hotel's first-annual Gridiron 
Chef Classic. The Omni Mandalay Hotel has partnered with talented chefs 
from Dallas and Philadelphia to host a cook-off on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 
6 - 9 p.m. on the hotel's grounds overlooking Lake Carolyn. As a build-up 
to the big Dallas and Philadelphia Monday night football game at Texas 
Stadium, the chefs will compete for bragging rights, while raising an 
anticipated $20,000 in funds for the James Beard Foundation supporting 
local scholarships for the culinary stars of tomorrow. Now the famous 
Dallas/Philadelphia rivalry -- and the extreme passion that coincides with 
it -- extends well beyond the field of battle with the chefs ready to prove 
that football and fine fare go hand-in-hand. 
 
    "This is great for the cities of Dallas and Philadelphia as we'll find 
out who the true culinary champions will be," said Diane Brown, director of 
educational and community programming for the James Beard Foundation. 
"While we are all excited about the modern day 'clash of the culinary 
titans,' we really appreciate the cities, chefs, restaurants and the Omni 
Mandalay for making this event happen on behalf of our foundation." 
 
    The evening will kickoff with the grand entrance of each chef team, 
Philadelphia by land and Dallas by boat, waving football team flags. The 
chefs will huddle and then take their place at the two specially-designed 
Electrolux(R) outdoor kitchens to begin the 60-minute cook-off. Once the 
mystery ingredient is presented, chefs will then select other ingredients 
from a Central Market(SM) station. Guests can watch as each team creates a 
signature dish utilizing the mystery ingredient, to be served as one of two 
main courses. Wait-staff dressed in referee uniforms will serve guests the 
dishes along with a signature wine pairing from Vina Robles Winery. 
 
    Guests will also enjoy several stations with high-end tailgate food, 
beer, wine and martini pairings during the cook-off. During the dessert 
course, Omni will collect ballots from each individual guest and tally up 
votes to determine the final score and winning team. 
 
    Tickets are available at the Omni Mandalay for $100 per person, plus 
tax and gratuity. For further information and reservation details, visit 
the James Beard Foundation web site or contact the Omni Mandalay Hotel at 
972-869-5506. 
 
 
 
    Participating chefs include: 
    Team Dallas 
    -- Chef Scott Romano, Charlie Palmer at The Joule 
    -- Chef Fitzgerald Dodd, Screen Door 
    -- Chef Christof Syre, Cafe on the Green, Four Seasons Resort 
    -- Chef Chris Vogeli, III Forks 
    -- Chef Michael Jackson, Trevi's, Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas 
 
    Team Philadelphia 
    -- Chef Brian Duffy, Kildare's 
    -- Chef Sylvain Harribey, Chez Colette, Sofitel-Philadelphia 
    -- Chef Matthew Levin, Lacroix 
    -- Chef James LoCascio, Barclay Prime 
    -- Chef David Wiederholt, The Oceanaire, Seafood Room                 
                
                
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