Crowd favorites, new contenders ready for Oak Grove's So-Cal Chef Open

Oak Grove Center unveiled the full lineup of chefs, at a media event Aug. 1, who will be competing in the 11th annual So-Cal Chef Open, Aug. 27, in the Grand Ballroom at Pechanga Resort Casino.

"We're really fortunate to see this event catapult itself within the Temecula Valley region to not only experience that, but see how the farm-to-table and slow food movement has really intertwined itself within the culinary," So-Cal Chef Open judge and E.A.T. founder and Executive Chef Leah Di Bernardo said.

Di Bernardo introduced two judges in attendance who will have the daunting challenge of scrutinizing the entries from the 18 chefs that will be competing – Master Chef Ferdinand Metz served for 21 years as the president of the renowned Culinary Institute of America and Chef Ronnel Capacia from Pechanga Resort Casino who won the event in 2016.

"A quick word to the competitors," Metz advised the chefs. "Be yourself. It's the flavor; it's the character of the meal, the balance of all those things. If you do what you do best, chances are you're going to do well."

The panel of judges will also include Executive Chef Daragh Matheson of Leoness Cellars, DiningOut San Diego publisher Josh Kopelman, Executive Chef Dean Thomas of The Inn at Europa, Chef Martin Venegas of Pechanga Resort Casino and Chef and Judge Liaison Robin McCoy.

Competing this year are chefs from Devilicious Eatery, Dinner by JR from the forthcoming LATiTUDE by JR, Fazeli Cellars Winery, Ballast Point: Temecula, Burgers & Beer, Bamboo House Asian Bistro, Cork Fire Kitchen at Temecula Creek Inn, Crab Boil Catering, Fresco Grill Wine Bar, The Chef's Grille, The Trendy Chef, Le' Roche' Catering, Meritage Restaurant at Callaway Vineyard & Winery, Le Grange Grill & Cellars, The Shamrock Irish Pub & Eatery, Vlada's Seeds of Life and Naughty Pig Butcher Shop & Encased Meats.

This year, there are more chefs competing than ever. They will be competing for the coveted Pinnacle Award and the People's Choice award.

"The exciting thing is its five more chefs that we've had before, and the cool thing is that it's a nice blend of the old-timers coming back and the newcomers this year who are not just new to the event, but new to the area," Tammy Wilson, CEO of Oak Grove Center, said. "We have new establishments, new catering businesses – so I think that's exciting. I also think that a number of them approached us, so that's great."

In the end, the So-Cal Chef Open is a benefit event for the Oak Grove Center, and the funds raised will go directly to the programs at the school, thus positively impacting the children that attend the Murrieta campus.

"Some of them will be there and they will be involved in thanking the sponsors and helping greet the guests," Wilson said. "Of course, this year's group of kids haven't ever been to this event, but in the past, the children have been so touched by just the outpouring of support."

The opportunity to do something they love – cooking fantastic food – and help at-risk youth is appealing to the competitors. Newcomer Chef Moore, who goes by the name the Trendy Chef, is one no different.

"Being a part of the Murrieta community, people started telling me about this (event), I knew nothing about this," Moore said. "Then they started telling me about the good cause, and I was like, 'I am definitely in.' Because I also teach children at the Murrieta and Lake Elsinore Boys & Girls Club and I give back to them, and I was like, this is a great opportunity to keep giving."

The influence of a culinary event like the So-Cal Chef Open has inspired a movement at the school to get children more involved with the food industry, according to Wilson.

"We've started a culinary internship at Oak Grove and that's slowly building, but that has added to interest," she said. "Even one of the chefs came up tonight and said he was interested in having a couple of our children to work with at his place – which would be phenomenal."

Wilson said that sponsors are welcome for the event and interested parties should reach out via email to [email protected].

Tickets for the So-Cal Chef Open are available for a discounted rate of $40 until Aug. 20 and will be $45 after the deadline and at the door. Tickets are available at http://www.oakgrovecenter.org.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].