Four chefs from IACC-member properties representing the United States and Canada gathered recently to compete for the IACC Americas Chapter Cook-Off at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, where the winners secured their spot en route to the Global Copper Skillet Competition finale next month at IACC-Americas Connect in Los Angeles.
Kent Phillips, executive chef at Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre, located in London, ON, Canada, took the “Senior Category Americas Cook-Off Award” for his winning dish of Smoked Paprika Petit Tenderloin and Horseradish Jus with Seared Trout, Asian Pear Slaw, Sweet Potato Fingerling Hash with Bacon and Sun-dried Tomatoes.
Shane Hawkins, lead cook at Stonewall Resort, located in Roanoke, WV, took the “Junior Category Americas Cook-Off Award” for his winning dish. Local judges named Hawkins the winner for his dish of Cornmeal Dusted Trout with Lemon Wine Butter, Pepper Seared Beef with a Whiskey and Shiitake Cream, Fried Fingerling Potatoes and Thyme Roasted Carrots.
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 area judges.
Sean Anderson, vice president of operations, Sodexo Conferencing, and president of the IACC-Americas Chapter, commented, “It is extraordinary what our IACC chefs are able to create. They have such incredible skill and passion, expressed each and every day, all around the world. In presenting this 2017 Americas chapter finale with MPI’s Education Institute, we were able to elevate the excitement of the competition and showcase IACC’s significant culinary talent.”
For the third year in the 13-year history of the Copper Skillet Competition, IACC introduced a Junior Chef category where IACC conference venue chefs under the age of 26 competed in the cook-off.
The winners of the Americas cook-offs (one senior chef and one junior chef) will go on to compete with other chefs from IACC chapters around the world at the International Copper Skillet Competition to be held during the IACC-Americas Connect conference in April 2017 at UCLA Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles. Here the 14th Global Copper Skillet Champion will be named.
The popular Copper Skillet Competition was introduced in 2004 to highlight the artistry and skill of the best chefs from IACC-member conference venues around the world, and to honor their contributions to the shared goal of providing an outstanding conference venue experience.
Photo (L to R): Wilmington, DE Mayor Mike Purzycki; Senior Category Winner, Kent Phillips, Executive Chef, Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre; Junior Category Winner, Shane Hawkins, Lead Cook, Stonewall Resort; IACC Americas Chapter President Sean Anderson. Photo by Scott Hewitt
