TASTE OF ST. LOUIS – 2012 • SEPT. 28 – 30
SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL • FREE ADMISSION
The Chef Battle Royale presented by Crawdad's Classics Gourmet Flavorings
Congratulations to Chef Wes Johnson of Salt – the 2011 Chef Battle Royale Champion!
The 2011 Taste of St. Louis culinary competition soared to new heights as eight hand-selected, top-notch chefs took their place in the all new Chef Battle Royale, presented by Crawdad's Classics Gourmet Flavorings.
The competition, which took place throughout the event weekend on the Lumière Place and River City Casino Culinary Stage, consisted of seven, 45 minute head-to-head battles in which only one chef emerged victorious. That chef was Wes Johnson of Salt.
Chef Wes Johnson came into the Chef Battle Royale – presented by Crawdad's Classic Gourmet Flavorings – as a contender on the Fox2/KPLR 11 televised competition. After winning the competition on Fox2 against Prime 1000's chef Ray Carpenter, Chef Johnson went on to compete on the Lumière Place and River City Casino Culinary Stage to win three more battles against Carl Hazel of the Scottish Arms, returning champion Jack W. MacMurray III of Jack Mac's Distinctive Taste, and Chris Lee of Sanctuaria to take the title Chef Battle Royale Champion.
Congratulations Chef Johnson – that is a feat worth applauding! Photo (above) by Peter Newcomb
(Left) Chef Wes's victory at the Fox2/KPLR11 televised competition (from left to right) Chef Johnson, Angie Mock of Fox2, Chef Ray Carpenter of Prime 1000, Taste of St. Louis Executive Chef Vito Racanelli, Patrick Clark of KPLR11.
(Middle) Chef Johnson's win over good friend Carl Hazel (from left to right) Chef Wes Johnson, Taste of St. Louis Executive Chef Vito Racanelli, Chef Carl Hazel of Scottish Arms. Photo by Katie Redell of River City Images
(Right) Chef Wes Johnson (left) shaking Chef Chris Lee's hand (right) after his win. Photo by Jon Gitchoff
A recap of the 2011 Chef Battle Royale Competition
Photos by Matt Marcinkowski
Above: Food Network's Chopped Champion Marc Bynum and Executive Chef Vito Racanelli hosting the 2010 Chef Battle Royale. Photo by Peter Newcomb
Above: Executive chef John Johnson of Lumière Place being interviewed about judging the Chef Battle Royale by Fox2's Tom O'Neal. Photo by Peter Newcomb |
A big thank you to all the amazing chefs who competed in our all new 2011 Chef Battle Royale, presented by Crawdad's Classics Gourmet Flavorings. It was an honor to have such top-notch talent on our Culinary Stage (not to mention the entertainment value and humor!). We very much look forward to an even more exciting competition in 2012!
In addition to the Chef Battle Royale Champion, Wes Johnson of Salt, the 2011 competitors included:
Nicholas Miller of Harvest Seasonal Market Cuisine
Jim Voss of Duffs
Carl Haze of The Scottish Arms
Chris Lee of Sanctuaria
Grace Dinsmoor of Modesto
John Griffiths of Truffles
Jack W. MacMurray III (the 2010 returning champ) of Jack Mac's Distinctive Taste.
The 2011 Chef Battle Royale was hosted by the Taste of St. Louis Executive Chef, Vito Racanelli of Onesto and Mad Tomato Allyson Mace of Sauce Magazine, Marc Bynum, Food Network's Chopped Champion, and Mark DeCarlo, author of "A Fork on the Road: 400 Cities, 1 Stomach", based on the Travel Channel's "Taste of America with Mark DeCarlo", and Host of MSN's Road Raves.
Stay tuned for the 2012 Chef line up and hosts!
Chef Battle Royale Competition Rules and Details
The competition is a head-to-head “Iron-Chef” style competition where each chef will be expected to produce his or her best dish (per category) in front of a live audience. The competition is run in a bracket-style format where the winner of each round will advance to compete in the next bracket. The field narrows until two competitors are left standing to vie for the title: CHEF BATTLE ROYALE CHAMPION. Unlike previous years where the chefs were chosen based on how many public votes they received, the new Chef Battle Royale competitors are hand-selected by the Chef Battle Royale Culinary Committee. The all new competition will take place on the Lumière Place and River City Casino Culinary Stage, located at 13th and Chestnut Street.
A coin toss allows the winner to determine whether they prefer to plate and present to the judges first or second. The Chef who plates second begins plating 5 minutes after the first chef.
