On the Menu: Watch local top chefs create dishes at Bloomington Chefs' Challenge July 29
What delicious creation will three of Bloomington's top chefs make when the secret ingredient is revealed at this year's Bloomington Chefs' Challenge?
The annual event, set for July 29 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, tests the culinary creativity of local chefs in a contest based on the "Iron Chef" cooking show and is a the major fundraiser for Community Kitchen of Monroe County.
Returning to the competition is Eric Bueno from Feast Market & Cellar, a two-time winner, including last year's competition. His sous chef will be Brett Holloway.
Another two-time winner, Corbin Morwick, executive chef at One World Catering, will compete alongside sous chef David Mitchell.
First time competitor chef Dan Thomas of The Elm will be accompanied by his sous chef, Michael Kaderabek.
The chefs will have one hour to create dishes that showcase their knack for nosh while highlighting the secret ingredient, revealed at the start of the competition.
Full disclosure: I will be one of the judges. Other judges will be Stacy Strand, program chair of the hospitality department at Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, and Jordan Davis, who works at Chocolate Moose, heads up the Bloomington Food Truck Fridays and Ellettsville Food Truck Wednesdays and does the No-Dishes Bloomington podcast.
Emcees for the event will be local comedians Stephanie Lochbihler (of Cook) and Jonas Schrodt (Brown County Winemaker). Tickets are available online at www.buskirkchumley.org. General admission tickets are $30. There is a $10 ticket for restaurant industry workers and servers.
While there will be no bistro seating this year, local restaurants will provide appetizers for audience members and the Buskirk-Chumley Theater will have a cash bar.
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Getting to watch some of the area's top chefs compete is entertaining, and the Chefs' Challenge helps Community Kitchen serve meals six days a week at its main location, offer food to kids through its Backpack Buddies and summer food service programs and keep its food truck, which also serves senior citizens and other people who can't make it to one of Community Kitchen locations, on the road.
This year, demand for Community Kitchen’s meal service is up over 20% compared to 2022 and continues to rise, according to Tim Clougher, assistant director.
"In June alone we provided almost 20,000 meals to at-risk kids, about 66% of our meals provided," he said in an email.
While Bloomington Chefs' Challenge is one of the major fundraisers for the agency, Clougher said any form of support is appreciated. Donating food, especially canned fruits and vegetables, as well as financial donations and volunteering are all ways people can help Community Kitchen combat local food insecurity.
Two Sticks Bakery closed for a summer break
Two Sticks Bakery has dealt with closures because of construction projects, electrical issues and will be closed through July 24 — this time for a summer break. The bakery shop at 415 S. Washington St. will reopen with its sweet and savory offerings on July 25.
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Free tea on July 20 at McAlister's Deli
For the 15th year, McAlister's Deli will offer its customers a free 32-ounce cup of the deli's tea. People can choose from sweet tea, unsweet tea, tea/lemonade, half sweet/half unsweet, tea with one flavor shot or a new limited-time PassionBerry tea. The limit is one per person, in-store only.
Bloomington's McAlister's Deli is at 2510 E. Third St. in Eastland Plaza.
Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com, 812-331-4359 or @ckugler on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Watch 3 top Bloomington chefs create dishes at annual Chefs' Challenge
