The stage is set for the second annual Scott Joseph’s Sous Chef Challenge: The Next Big Thing, Sunday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m. at the Orange County Convention Center. The cooking competition is part of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show.
The show, which also features other competitions, is usually open only to professional culinary members. But I have a select number of tickets available to the Sous Chef Challenge that will also allow you access to the convention floor with rows and rows of vendors offering everything a restaurant needs to operate, from tables and chairs, linens, ovens, signage – and food, lots and lots of food booths offering samples for you to taste.
Tickets are $35 and all proceeds go to Give Kids the World. You can buy your tickets at this link.
The Sous Chef Challenge is designed to feature the talents of the cooks who serve directly under the executive chef. They’ll be preparing dishes that they think will be the next big food trend. The winner, selected by a panel of judges, will win $1000.
And as a ticket holder, you’ll get to sample each dish and place a vote for the People’s Choice Award trophy.
The sous chefs competing this year represent such kitchens as:
Morimoto Asia
The Whiskey
Grande Lakes
Hyatt Regency Orlando
Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill
Cress DeLand
Saratoga Springs
The Center Club Tampa
And defending his title will be last year’s winner, Jacob Rios, of American Kitchen at B Resort.
The Sous Chef Challenge is held in conjunction with ACF Central Florida Chapter and is sponsored by Sysco and FreshPoint, who provide ingredients to the competitors.