On Monday, August 14th, Peltzer Winery will host and present Oak Grove Center’s 16th Annual So-Cal Chef Open. The event has grown in popularity and reputation, with several past Chefs having been featured in lifestyle magazines, on television, as well as receiving coverage from influential food critics and bloggers. This year’s impressive judging panel includes Valle’s Executive Chef Roberto Alcocer, Corporate Executive Chef Jarrod Moiles form PE Management Lakehouse Resort and Belmont Park Cannonball, Executive Sous Chef Kaitlyn Weber from The Lodge at Torrey Pines and Social Media Influencer, Farmer, Cheese Maker, Educator and Advocate for all things local, Jack Ford. Rounding out this year’s Judging Panel will be Southern California’s Favorite Meteorologist and Sportscaster, KTLA 5 Morning News’s own Henry DiCarlo.
Showcasing their culinary expertise, Chefs compete for two awards: The Pinnacle Award and People’s Choice. The Pinnacle Award is voted on through a blind tasting scoring system by culinary experts: Celebrity Chef Judges, Food Critics, and Influencers.
Competing this year are past winners Executive Chef Matthew Steffen with Cork Fire Kitchen, Chef Justin Mabunay with URBN Market Fusion, Chef Michelle Ann Montoya with Nana’s Tamales, and Executive Chef Steve Bearse with New Life Culinary Creations. Early registered competing chefs looking to defeat past winners are Executive Chef Taylor Israelsen with Avensole Winery, Chef Keion “KT” Taylor with EaT 310, Pitmaster/Chef Robert Johns, OLD MAN GRILLIN’ and The Chain Smokers, Executive Chef Ben Diaz with Leoness Cellars and Chef Michel Malecot with The French Gourmet.
Henry DiCarlo, an AMS meteorologist and sportscaster for the KTLA 5 Morning News will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies. Two-time winner Executive Chef Matthew Steffen with Cork Fire Kitchen and many other award-winning chefs will vie for bragging rights and this year’s Pinnacle Award. Many of the Chefs competing have extensive culinary experience training under Celebrity Chefs such as Wolfgang Puck. If you are a Foodie, this is a must-attend event.
Presented by JP Morgan Chase, the So-Cal Chef Open will be held on Monday, August 14th at Peltzer Farms in Temecula, beginning at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $100 per person. The event includes Tapas-Style Tastings from competing Southwestern United States Chefs, Beer Tastings, and Oak Grove Center Youth performances. Tickets are on sale now at www.oakgrovecenter.org/events/chefopen/.
On the following Friday, August 18th, the 21st Annual Oak Grove Center’s Golf Classic will take place at Temecula Creek Inn Golf Course. Along with the So-Cal Chef Open, the Golf Classic supports Oak Grove Center’s Culinary Arts Vocational Program. The real winners of these two events are Oak Grove Center’s at-risk and special needs youth. The Culinary Arts Vocation Program provides experience and employable skills to help them transition into independent adulthood, successfully.
Golf Classic packages, including sponsorships and foursomes, are also available at https://oakgrovecenter.org/events/golf/. So-Cal Chef Open tickets are included in the golf packages. Donations to help Oak Grove’s Culinary Vocational Program can be made online.