July 30, 2012
10 restaurant exec-chef teams to throw down at Culinary Clash: Battle Anaheim Aug. 12
(SACRAMENTO, July 30, 2012) – Ten powerhouse restaurant companies have signed on to compete in the inaugural Culinary Clash: Battle Anaheim, a fundraising event that will benefit the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF). The battle will commence at 3 p.m. Aug. 12 in conjunction with the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Participating restaurant companies include: BJ’s Restaurants (Huntington Beach), Cohn Restaurant Group (San Diego), Daily Grill (Los Angeles), Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar (Newport Beach). Lawry’s Restaurants (Pasadena), Maria’s Italian Kitchen (Los Angeles), Real Mex Restaurants (Cypress), Roy’s Restaurants (Newport Beach), Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Irvine) and Yard House Restaurants (Irvine).
The teams, comprised of the top company executive, corporate chef and a local high school ProStart student, will have 45 minutes and two butane burners to create an amuse buche and an entrée. Teams also will score extra points for creative usage of Coca-Cola in their recipes, in a nod to the event’s presenting sponsor. Chef and lifestyle expert Pace Webb will serve as emcee of the event, and Betty Fraser, restaurateur and Top Chef contestant, will sit on the judging panel.
“The Foundation is ecstatic at the level of industry participation and partnership to make the first Culinary Clash a great success,” CRAEF Executive Director Alycia Harshfield said.
Teams will vie for trophies on behalf of Coca-Cola and Ecolab, as well as the top Purse award for raising the most money for CRAEF via a public Facebook campaign, wherein restaurant fans can make a small donation in the name of their favorite participating restaurant.