Competition is heating up in the local “Iron Chef” style Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament, being held at Blobs Park in Jessup, Maryland this summer. The original field of 16 top area chefs will be down to just eight after this week’s matches. Monday, July 23rd will be between Chef Luis Echeverria of Newton’s Table of Bethesda and Chef Ben Simpkins of Richardson Farms in White Marsh. Tuesday, July 24th will pit Chef R.L. Boyd of Mie N Yu in Georgetown against Chef Sotheare “Ree” Kem of Elite Spice of Jessup. The winners of these two matches will round out the top eight and advance to Round 2 which kicks-off next Monday, July 30th.
As Round two begins on July 30th, two Baltimore top chefs will go head-to-head in what may prove to be one the toughest matches yet. Chef Patrick “Opie” Crooks of Roy’s Baltimore will take on Chef Billy Hughes of Barracudas Restaurant and Bar located in the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore.
Chef Opie is a force to be reckoned with; led by a passion for the kitchen, Chef Opie first discovered cooking at the age of 14 and never looked back. He joined the Roy's Ohana in 2005, and his extraordinary talent and passion have since earned him the Chef Partner position at Roy's Baltimore.
Chef Hughes is not to be underestimated either, his simple, yet perfect crab cake wowed the judges in Round 1. He started his cooking at an early age as well, watching and learning from his grandmother before starting his formal culinary training. He has worked at some of the top restaurants in the area, including Liberatore's, Red Star, James Joyce, and Manhattan Grill.
Round 2 will continue on July 31st with a rematch between Chef Melissa Fordham of Gourmet Again and Chef Jeff Keeney of Catering by Jeff. These two chefs were co-workers at The Harryman House many years ago, and went head-to-head in the 2012 Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament, where Chef Fordham knocked out Chef Keeney in Round 1. Chef Keeney has waited two years for a rematch, so you won’t want to miss this grudge match, to see who will advance this time and have a shot at the title of 2012 Mason Dixon Master Chef!
Details on all competing chefs, by-weeks, and ticket options can be found at www.MasonDixonMasterChef.com. You can also follow the tournament’s latest information on Twitter, @MDMasterChef, and Facebook.
Chefs are available to provide in-studio food demonstrations and interviews or on-site interviews. (See below.) Additional dates and other chefs participating can be found at: www.masondixonmasterchef.com/schedule-results
Tickets:
General Admission - $25* each, including tax and gratuity
Entitle attendees to admission to the competition, free appetizers, free wine tastings, and drink specials during happy hour. General Admission ticket holders are also eligible for random selection as a guest judge for that evening’s competition.
Judging Experience - $45* each, including tax and gratuity
Includes reserved VIP seating, tastes of all six of the chefs’ creations, and assure that guests get to taste and vote alongside the tournament’s expert judges.
*Ten percent of net proceeds from each ticket sale go to the event’s charity partner, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, a local nonprofit organization that delivers nutritious meals, personal contact and related services to homebound individuals. Tickets must be purchased in advance for this pricing.
When & Where:
Remaining Dates include: July 23, 24, 30, 31, August 13, 14, 20, 21, and the September 10th final.
Event Timeline (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
6:00 p.m. – Happy Hour (2-for-1 drinks, free appetizers and free wine tasting)
6:30 p.m. – Cold Prep Begins
7:00 p.m. – Chef Competition
8:00pm – Judging Begins
Blobs Park Bavarian Biergarten
8024 Max Blobs Park Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Why: Celebrate local cuisine and local talent while supporting an important cause. Ten percent of net proceeds will go to Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, a nonprofit organization that delivers nutritious meals, personal contact and related services to homebound individuals. www.mealsonwheelsmd.org
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