Fort Worth chef Tim Love beats Mario Batali, Guy Fieri at Asphalt Chef contest

by Marc Lee of The Assignment Desk, DFW

Chefs have their way with Gulf shrimp.

marcsclips.com

Foreigner's Kelly Hansen, Chef Tim Love, Chef Mario Batali, Racer Jimmie Johnson, racer Kurt Busch, and Chef Guy Fieri

FORT WORTH — Fort Worth chef Tim Love rolled over superstar chefs Mario Batali and Guy Fieri to win the title of Asphalt Chef on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. Partnered with Foreigner singer Kelly Hansen, Love won for his shrimp and grits with chorizo gambas.

The recurring charity event organized by Batali took place at the Speedway's Lone Star Tower Clubhouse; a crowd of about 250 sat in the stands lining the clubhouse's Texas-shaped pool. Batali partnered with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson; Fieri was paired with 2004 Sprint Cup Series champ Kurt Busch.

In Iron Chef fashion, the night's "secret ingredient" was Gulf shrimp; but the chefs dished out plenty of ham as they traded mock barbs about the quality of their competitors' food. There were also numerous references to a wild time they shared Friday night that involved a golf cart.

The chefs were given only 15 minutes to cook. Batali presented a Shrimp Bloody Mary with vodka and black tagliatelle with rock shrimp, chorizo scallions, and chiles. Fieri served shrimp three ways: with plantains, coconut, and ceviche. To the delight of his competitors, he took an extra four minutes to finish the competition.

Judges were NBC 5 broadcaster Newy Scruggs, Texas Rangers pitcher Tommy Hunter, and race car driver Michael Waltrip.