Master Chef Winners Chosen in Santa Barbara Competition

The 2015 Master Chef Culinary Competition for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation was a vigorous battle between four top local chefs, taking place under the watchful eyes of citizen and professional judges Sunday.

The event was held in the Public Market kitchen in downtown.

The overall winner and people’s choice was Chef Michael Blackwell from the Montecito County Club. The judges choice was Chef Avery Hardin from the Scarlett Begonia restaurant. Other competitors were Chef Tyler Peek from Sama Sama Kitchen and Chef Justin West of Julienne.

Along with guests who filled out scoring sheets based on categories including presentation, degree of difficulty, and taste there was a panel of three top chefs in Santa Barbara that were served at a private table. They included Chef Randy Bublitz from Santa Barbara City College Culinary Arts, Chef John Downey from Downey’s restaurant, and Chef Greg Murphy from Bouchon restaurant.

Private Chef Edie Robertson narrated the event on a microphone as the chefs worked against a time clock in the kitchen preparing their dishes.

Advanced Sommelier, Michele Fano from Napa, poured and discussed select wines.

The chefs chose from a basket of ingredients including fingerling potatoes, lentils, wheat berries, parsnips, beets, leeks, butternut squash, kale, mushrooms, tangerines, limes, pears, fennel, and veal stock with duck as the centerpiece of their presentation.

Signature cocktails were made by Olio e Limone and craft beer was poured by Valley Brewers from Solvang.

Passersby were able to watch the fast paced event through glass windows in the market, which provided good views of the preparation and cooking areas.

For more information on the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation go to: http://www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org/