Overview of Comfort Food Classic
The Fifth annual Comfort Food Classic, a chef competition to benefit Ted E. Bear Hollow, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 pm. Come enjoy the best comfort food in town, prepared by the area's top chefs! This year the chefs will compete for the best gourmet lasagna. You'll get to taste and vote for your favorite. Bid on silent and live auction items! Delicious hors d'oeuvres and desserts will be served, as well as complimentary wine.
This year's Comfort Food Classic will be held at the Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center, formerly CoCo Key Convention Center, off 72nd and Grover.
Chefs
Chef Hallberg of V.Mertz located downtown Omaha
When he was growing up, Matt Hallberg always volunteered to help grill the steaks or bake cookies with his mom. However, he didn't consider a career in the culinary arts until he realized a business degree wasn't the right fit for him. His passion for cooking led him to the Scottsdale Culinary Institute where within the first week of classes, he realized he was in the right place. He's been the executive chef of V. Mertz since January 2011. Golfing and spending time with his family are among Matt's other interests. Sauces are one of Matt's specialties, and for the competition he hopes to use some of his techniques to create a subtle spin on traditional lasagna.
Chef Chapman of The Grey Plume located in Midtown Omaha
Omaha native Clayton Chapman began his culinary career in the dish pit of Mother's Good Food in North Omaha at the age of 15. Clayton went on to work at M's Pub as the daytime chef before attending culinary school at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago.
Upon graduating, Clayton traveled to Europe to experience traditional French cuisine before returning to Omaha and working as executive chef at V. Mertz, where he introduced the "tasting menu" concept to the Omaha market. Clayton later served as the Executive Chef at Spencer's for Steaks and Chops and taught culinary classes at the Metropolitan Community College Institute for the Culinary Arts.
Today Clayton serves as the head chef and owner of The Grey Plume in Midtown, where he also resides with wife, Bernadette, and son, Hudson Grey.
Chef Mekiney of Vivace and M's Pub both located downtown Omaha
Ever since his first dinner rush on a line at age 14, Bobby Mekiney knew he belonged in the kitchen. He studied culinary arts at Iowa Western where he met his wife, Preslie, and developed a love for the creativity involved in cooking. For nine years, Bobby has been with M's Pub and Vivace restaurants, where he is the executive chef. When he's not busy at the restaurants, Bobby enjoys reading cookbooks, fishing and spending time with his daughters, Elliot and Samantha. He says his style is strongly influenced by the seasons, and that will play a part in his lasagna recipe.
Chef Urban & Chef Joyce of New York Chicken & Gyros located in downtown Omaha
Paul Urban, the inaugural Comfort Food Classic winner from 2007, will team up with his fellow New York Chicken & Gyros chef and 2009 Comfort Food Classic winner, Jessica Joyce, to form the first and only team made up of two past champions.
Paul and Jessica both knew from a young age that they enjoyed cooking and working in restaurants. Both Paul and Jessica are graduates of the Metropolitan Community College Institute for the Culinary Arts and have worked as chefs in kitchens across the United States and internationally.
The chefs enjoy cooking, eating and playing with their dogs, Cabot and Charlie. Besides cooking, Paul is an avid baseball fan while Jessica enjoys sketching and painting. To prepare for the competition, the two claim to have been "eating a lot of lasagna -- Man vs. Food style!" Their approach to cooking their lasagna dish is to simply make it look and taste good!
Chef Cruz & Chef Shaft of the Old Mattress Factory located in downtown Omaha
Though their backgrounds couldn't be any more different, Aldo Cruz and Kendra LeeAnn Shaft are able to find a common ground in the kitchen. Aldo is a native of Pamona, Calif., where he spent his childhood learning the techniques of cooking Latin cuisine from his mother. Kendra also credits her mother, along with her great grandmother, for teaching her the basics of baking and cooking as a young girl growing up in Holt, Mich.
The two have teamed up to represent The Old Mattress Factory Bar and Grill and hope to showcase each of their unique backgrounds and styles in their single dish - Aldo with his Latin-inspired roots and Kendra with a love for "good old-home cooking" that's filled with love and memories.
According to Kendra, the pairs' strategy is to simply do their best, try not to get overwhelmed and have fun while raising money for a good cause.
Chef Barron of Big Mama's Kitchen & Catering located in North Omaha
Patricia "Big Mama" Barron has lived in Omaha for her entire life. After graduating from high school, Patricia joined the U.S. Navy where she served for four years. In the late 1960s she began attending culinary arts school at Metropolitan Community College.
Patricia's love for cooking was acquired while learning to cook biscuits from scratch in her grandmother Lillie's kitchen and, in December of 2007, she opened the doors of Big Mama's Kitchen & Catering. Her delicious dinners and desserts have received national attention and been featured on Food Network and the Travel Channel.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, Patricia believes that it was her faith, family and persevering spirit that helped her get through one of the toughest times of her life. She and her late husband Earnest raised five daughters and have 15 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.
Emcee
Carol Wang of Action 3 News
Carol Wang considers herself fortunate to have covered many important events since she's been a reporter including the space shuttle Columbia explosion, Presidential visits, and troops deploying to Iraq. She's reported in Tacoma, Topeka, Wichita, Dallas and now Omaha, where she is the anchor for the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts for KMTV Action 3 News. She has won several awards for her work on-air and her philanthropic work in the community, including being named one of Omaha's Ten Outstanding Young Omahans. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, attending arts events and trying new restaurants.
Honorary Chair
David Hayes, Entreprenuer & Proprietor
Veteran Omaha restaurateur David Hayes is the Honorary Chair for the 2011 Comfort Food Classic.
During his 25-plus years on the Omaha restaurant scene, David has opened numerous restaurants including The Winerey, Monterey Café, Jams, Café Café (now Bailey's), B&G's, Back Nine (now Clancy's) and has helped develop the menu for several others including Bebo's and Pitch Pizzeria in Dundee.
David currently operates Old Market staples V. Mertz, known for their extensive wine collection and menu that incorporates classic French cuisine with American interpretations, and New York Chicken and Gyros, a casual establishment featuring farm-to-city street style food options.
Questions? Call 402-502-2773 for more information.