9th Annual Livingston Iron Chef Competition Announced

BRIGHTON, Mich. - Aug. 7, 2013 - PRLog -- On Thursday, August 8, 2013, two local chefs will cook it out in the kitchen for Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan’s 9^th Annual Iron Chef Competition (http://www.ironchefevent.com). The culinary showdown will turn up the heat at Bordine’s Nursery in Brighton where greenhouses will be transformed into Kitchen Stadium. Doors open at 6:00p and the competition begins at 7:00p. Funds raised help to support Gleaners’ Shared Harvest Pantry – a client choice pantry, it’s 2,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Livingston County.

Patrick Srock, executive chef of Oak Pointe Country Club returns to battle against Sandy Blake, chef and owner of Mexicali Allies in Howell. Each chef will be challenged to create an appetizer, entrée and dessert incorporating a specially selected secret ingredient. Last year, over 500 people attended the cook-off with bacon as the secret ingredient. The event raised more than 280,000 meals for hungry people in Livingston County.

Throughout the culinary throwdown, guests will have the opportunity to nosh on tastings from local restaurants and markets while enjoying a variety of soft drinks and beverages. Guests can participate in a silent auction and fan favorite vote – the chef garnering the most votes will walk away with the 2013 Iron Chef Fan Favorite title. Patrons can also make a nominal donation to enter the Tasting Chance; a chance to sit in the front row and taste the chef’s competing creations. 

Live performance artist Dave Santia (http://www.davesantiagallery.com) will energize Kitchen Stadium by speed painting on a spinning canvas. Santia keeps the audience guessing what the finished creation will be until the last stroke when the canvas stops spinning. His paintings will be sold in a live auction and have raised more than $3500 for Gleaners over the past three years.

For the 9^th year in a row, WDIV Local 4 News Anchor Steve Garagiola returns as moderator alongside Detroit News Columnist Neal Rubin, Iron Chef color commentator. The 2013 judges are:

Kate Lawson, Detroit News Food Writer
Renee Chodkowski, Host of WHMI 93.5’s “The Great Foodini”
Daniel Giroux, Executive Chef of Detroit Golf Club
John Utter, Livingston Daily Press & Argus.
Cheryl Cleyman, 2012 Honorary Judge 

Tickets are $50 - can be purchased at the door, online at www.ironchefevent.com until 10a on Thursday, August 8^th or any of the following locations:Gleaners Livingston Distribution Center, 5924 Sterling Drive, Howell; Bordine’s Nursery, 6347 Grand River Ave., Brighton;and The Wooden Spoon, 675 W. Grand River Ave., Brighton.

The public can support and follow the heat on:
Twitter @Gleaners and www.facebook.com/gleanersfan
For mobile updates, text CHEF to 51555 (message & data rates may apply) 

About Gleaners Community Food Bank
Founded in 1977, Gleaners is one of the oldest and largest food banks in the country. Today it distributes more than 46 million pounds of emergency food annually, equivalent to 100,000 meals per day. Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners operates a total of five distribution centers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties, which provide food to 558 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other agencies throughout southeastern Michigan. Of every dollar donated, Gleaners uses 93 cents for food and food programs. One dollar provides three meals for a hungry neighbor. Learn more at www.gcfb.org.

MEDIA ONLY: For more information or to schedule an interview or cooking demonstration by one of the competitors, contact C&B Scene at 248-336-8360 or scene@candbscene.com