Four chefs from IACC Canadian- and U.S.-member properties recently competed for the Americas Chapter Copper Skillet at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel in Tempe, Ariz.
This competition was stage two in the culinary competition, where two junior and two senior chefs from Canada and the United States competed to represent the Americas spots at the IACC Global Copper Skillet Final at IACC-Americas Connect conference this April in New York City.
Chef Austin Klug, restaurant line chef from The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center took the Junior Category Copper Skillet for his winning dish of filet medallions with a wild shitake mushroom demi and a Dijon panko crusted wild salmon with a creamy tomato risotto.
Barrington Graham, first cook St. Andrew’s Club and Conference Centre took the Senior Category Copper Skillet for his winning dish of pan seared salmon with mango relish and beef tenderloin with lemon and green onion au jus with creamy polenta and sautéed zucchini ribbon and honey mushroom.
Other competing chefs included Pastry Chef Alexsandra Lalonde, also of St. Andrews Club & Conference Center, and Executive Chef Sean Curry of Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center.
In the competition, the chefs were presented with basic pantry items along with a “mystery basket” of proteins. They were given 30 minutes to prepare, create, and present their creations to local judges.
“This competition highlights the best of the Americas Chapter and the chefs who competed represented amazing culinary skill,” said TJ Fimmano, IACC-Americas president. “I’m thrilled that both Canada and the United States will be represented at the Global Competition in April.”
For the second year in the 12-year history of the Copper Skillet competition, IACC introduced a Junior Chef category where IACC conference centre chefs under the age of 26 competed in the cook-off.
The Global Copper Skillet Final will take place on Tuesday evening, April 19, during the IACC-Americas Connect membership meeting at Convene Midtown East, New York City.
