Winners Announced for ‘09 Cookin’ for Kids Celebrity Chef Cook-Off in Fort Worth

by PegNews wire

FORT WORTH — Kids Who Care, a non-profit international musical theatre company based in Fort Worth, announces the winners of the Twelfth Annual Cookin' for Kids Celebrity Chef Cook-Off, a benefit event that some refer to as "The Iron Chef of Fort Worth."

The benefit event was held Sunday, March 1 at River Ranch in Fort Worth, where 10 professional chefs, each with a notable Texan as an assistant, competed in a race against the clock to create the evening's winning plates. Each pair was provided with a cooler full of surprise ingredients, two bunsen burners and 45 minutes to create two plates. One plate was delivered and divided among the evening's judges, and the other was auctioned off to the evening's highest bidders. Simultaneously, four amateur chef teams competed in the amateur chef category.

In the Professional Chef category, the following teams won:

First place - Chef Gabe Ochoa of Ridglea Country Club, assisted by Jody Ulich, president of the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County

Second place - Chef Denise Shavandy of Central Market Southlake, assisted by Jim Austin from the Austin Company

Third place - Chef Deb Cantrell of Cuisine for Healing, assisted by Mark Lowry from Theatre Jones

In the Amateur Chef category, the following teams won:

First place - Joseph Vincelli with Lisa Vincelli

Second place - Jim Ogden with Bubba Stucker

"We're delighted and grateful for the growth this event has seen each year in support of these amazing kids," said Deborah Jung, founder and executive director of Kids Who Care. "With the help of this caring community, we are able to cultivate and create Fort Worth's next leaders."

Cookin' for Kids is Fort Worth's original celebrity chef cook-off benefit. It's held the first Sunday in March each year and is the single largest fund-raising event for Kids Who Care. All proceeds benefit Kids Who Care and help provide scholarships, youth leadership training and other support that makes Kids Who Care arts education an affordable family entertainment available in our community.

Serving on the 2009 judging panel were Jon Bonnell, Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine; Jon Albright, "2008 You Be The Judge" winner; Amy Culbertson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram food editor; Laurie James, freelance writer for Fort Worth Weekly; Mary Rogers, author and society writer; and Crystal Willars, editor of Fort Worth Foodie magazine.

As the chefs competed, guests enjoyed food and beverages provided by: Boomer Jacks, Central Market Fort Worth, Cuisine for Healing, El Paseo, Gallery Art Café, Grand Cru Wines and Gifts, Hoffbrau Steaks, Latte Da Dairy, Ovations, Sandy's Cake Balls, Simply Fondue, The Ginger Man and Z's Café.

Source: Kids Who Care