Classic chef contest heats up weekend Ashland event
November 14, 2008
By Sarah Lemon
Mail Tribune
Ashland, Oregon - After coming up short at last month’s Bite of the Rogue Valley “Iron Chef” competition, Omar’s James Williams will toss his toque into the ring again at this weekend’s Food and Wine Classic in Ashland.
Placing second last year with son Skyler Golden in the Classic’s “Chef Showdown,” Williams faces stiff competition again this year, not least from 2007’s victorious chef Neil Clooney of Dragonfly, who went on to claim the state’s Iron Chef title at Bite of Oregon in Portland.
The action kicks off Saturday at the Historic Ashland Armory. Clooney, Williams and six other chefs will use local ingredients to create a dish in about an hour. The final four chefs will square off in Sunday’s final rounds.
In a change from last year’s event when spectators couldn’t sample finished dishes, an auction will follow each round, allowing the highest bidder to claim the plate. But no one will leave hungry, organizers say. Tasting portions of food and beverages will circulate courtesy of Rogue Creamery, Lillie Belle Farms, Deux Chats Bakery, Noble Coffee, Cascade Peak Spirits and several local wineries.
Ashland Chamber of Commerce’s effort to attract tourists during the slow season, the Classic also ties in with the Oregon Bounty promotion, which runs statewide through this month. Festivities start today at 5 p.m. with a reception pairing food and wine at Ashland Springs Hotel, affording an opportunity to hobnob with the competing chefs and local culinary artisans.
A $25 weekend ticket grants admission to the reception, workshops and the Chef Showdown, plus buys a souvenir glass and tasting card. Pay $15 for Saturday and Sunday activities or $10 for the reception only.
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