The folks behind the First Press Weekend of Wine clearly know what suckers we are for a good smackdown. With so many gourmet-cooking-as-competitive-sport shows on TV these days (Iron Chef, The Next Iron Chef, Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen), why not play on their popularity and pit two top local chefs against each other in a grand cookoff?
Here, here. The First Press Gourmet Sessions "Food Fight" should make for a very entertaining evening, courtesy of Methode Bistro's Matt McLinn(shown, above left) and Sol y Sombra's Aaron May (above right), who'll have one hour and a basket of mystery ingredients to whip up something good enough to win over judges Robin Miller, host of Food Networks “Quick Fix Meals,” Barbara Fenzl of Les Gourmettes, and KEZ’s Marty Manning. Terri Ouellette and Chef Jon-Paul Hutchins from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute will be the evening's MCs.
Along with the cook-off, the evening will feature tastings from Methode, Sol y Sombra, and the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, as well as wine (of course) from Willamette Valley Vineyards and Valley of the Sun Fine Wines.
It sounds like a mighty good time, and the whole thing benefits public radio stations KJZZ 91.5FM, KBAQ 89.5FM and Sun Sounds.
Tickets are $65, available at the door or online. The Food Fight goes down from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 18, at the Sub-Zero/Wolf Showroom, 15570 N. 83rd Way in Scottsdale. Call(480) 774-VINO for info.
