Rising star chefs will be center stage at this summer's Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo. The Expo is partnering with Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions Hospitality Recruitment to bring this fast paced and energetic Rising Star Chef Mystery Box Challenge to the 2013 event. This will be the first year this special event will be held showcasing four of Southern California's rising chefs who will compete and then be judged by three top esteemed critics and restaurateurs. The event will take place Monday, August 19th at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
"The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo is the best industry event in Southern California and we are thrilled to be partnering with them to present this cooking competition," says Brad Metzger from Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions. "We have some of the brightest rising star chefs in the region competing for a prestigious panel of judges who can certainly help their careers – this will certainly be an event not to be missed."
Each competitor will be given mystery ingredients and 20 minutes to make the best dish possible. The professionals who will be judging these dishes include Brian Malarkey, Chef and Restaurateur; Jennifer Sommer, LA Correspondent for Food and Wine Magazine and Russ Parsons, Food Editor for the LA Times. Brad Metzger will be the moderator for this challenge. After the competition the rising star chefs will discuss today's restaurant trends, in a session titled "Rising Star Chefs Talk, #restauranttrends" moderated by Sarah Christopher, senior director of Culinary Recruitment.
"What a great way to make a splash for our return to Los Angeles. The Rising Star Chef Mystery Box Challenge, paired with the other events at the show will make this year's Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo one of the best and most exciting food shows we have ever had," says Ron Mathews, event director of Reed Exhibitions, producers of the event. "We are thrilled to be able to showcase rising star chefs from Southern California and give them an opportunity to shine in front of the leaders in our industry."
The four chefs competing in the competition are:
- Nyesha Arrington from Top Chef Season 9
- Tin Vuong, Executive Chef/ Partner at Abigaile, Wildcraft and Little Sister
- Jesse Barber, Executive Chef at Barnyard
- 4th chef to be determined
The 2013 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo will take place August 18–20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This is the largest showcase of foodservice products in the Western United States
