VIP tasting tickets to Sunday's Iron Fork Syracuse professional cooking competition are almost sold out, according to John Reule, executive chef of Wise Guys bistro and one of the organizers of the area's first Iron Chef - style showdown for central New York chefs. The competition begins at 11 a.m. in the Goldstein Auditorium at Syracuse Univeristy's Schine Student Center. Proceeds benefit the Syracuse Rescue Mission.
At Iron Fork Syracuse, local chefs will compete in rounds judged by Food Network celebrity chef Anne Burrell, WSYR-Channel 9 news anchor Carrie Lazarus and Post-Standard food writer Don Cazentre. The cooking competition runs from 11 a.m – 4 p.m. After the competition ends, Burrell will sign copies of her latest book, Cook like a Rock Star: 125 Recipes, Lessons and Culinary Secrets from 4 – 4:45 p.m. Then from 5 – 6 p.m., Chef Burrell will speak about studying and cooking in Italy in a free lecture at Schine.
Reule has a few VIP Tasting tickets left at $75, which must be purchased in advance. VIP tickets allow spectators to sit or mingle on the competition floor, taste the chef's creations and sample the wines and microbrews from the competition's beverage sponsors. Balcony tickets, $20, allow spectators to view the competition but not taste the food, and are available in advance and on Sunday at the door. SU students with ID can buy a balcony ticket for $10. Readers can attend Burrell's book signing and lecture for free. To purchase advance tickets, call Reule at 315-744-8430.
Iron Fork Syracuse is the brainchild of Reule, along with fellow chefs Jeremy Patterson, Mary and Tom Kiernan, and Chance Bear. Food writer Rochelle Bilow and The Sweet Life host Chris Xaver will emcee the event.
On Sunday morning, the chef teams will learn which of five possible ingredients will be their “secret” ingredient for competition. Then, in the style of Food Network's hit show Iron Chef America, each team of chefs will prepare three dishes for the judges showcasing the secret ingredient: an appetizer, an entree and a third dish of their choice. Along with bragging rights, winners will receive chef coats, knife sets, and have their name engraved on a trophy that the winning team gets to display in their restaurant for a year.
Iron Fork Syracuse also features a silent auction including SU sports memorabilia to benefit the Syracuse Rescue Mission. Readers can get directions to SU's Schine Student Center, 303 University Ave., from the map included with this article.
The 12 Restaurants and chefs competiting in Iron Fork Syracuse include:
- Basil Leaf Ristorante – chefs Billy Stamboly, Anthony Stamboly, John Dias
- Brewster Inn – Jason Wright, Stephen Franks, David France
- Camillus Country Club – Josh Mersfelder, Jeremy Patterson, Mike Davis
- Century Club – Brian Antinore, Debbie Sallo, Dan Beckett
- Daniella's Steakhouse – Mike White, Rich Kinter, Stefan Ulrich
- Francesca's – Derreck Becker, Randal Colman, Jaime Delgado
- Free Range Catering – Stephen Landon, Allyson Landon, Jerry Bolton
- Papa Gallo – Bobby Martin, Nate Lovell, Kevin Cronin
- Sysco Food Services – Tom Turton, Paul Healy, James Powell
- Turning Stone Resort & Casino (team 1) – Jason Drysdale, Kevin Ford, Doug Clark
- Turning Stone Resort & Casino (team 2) – Mike Tubia, Mike Zmigrodski, Nick Salvetti
- Wise Guys Bistro – Thomas Shin, Joshua Robinson, Xavier Currasco
Remaining Iron Fork Syracuse VIP tickets are only available from Reule at Wise Guys Bistro. Contact chef Reule directly at 315-744-8430 for VIP tickets.
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