Here's who is cooking for Chefs Fest
The 405 diningscape's Top 40 goes live on Saturday
Happy Chefs Fest week, here’s a look at the roster plus some newsy nuggets.
Chefs Fest 2023 begins Saturday morning at Super Cao Nguyen Market, chefs are still reviewing the final schedule for release. Had hoped to release it this evening, but I will do it as soon as it is cleared by all 41 or so chefs. That will include the full schedule, menu and a booth chart.
I can give you the complete(ish) roster, which includes two James Beard Award winners and two nominees, a tamale king, and the Queen of the 405 diningscape:
Kurt Fleischfresser (mentor chef), The Tasting Room
Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der Lao Kitchen
Zach and Silvana Walters, of Sedalia’s
Waseem Ahmed, of Kebabish Bites
Chris Becker, Della Terra Pasta
Jonas Favela, Stock & Bond
Kamala Gamble and Bar Mock, Kam’s Kitchen
Elena Hughes, Elemental Coffee Roasters
Josh Valentine, season 10 of Top Chef
Danh Do, Vast
Clayton Farhood, Nunu’s Mediterranean Cafe
Anna Banda, Francis Tuttle School of Culinary Art
Gabriel Lewis, two seasons of Master Chef
David Sullivan, Rococo
Bryan Wilson, Scrambl’d
Rachel Foster, Moni’s Pasta and Pizza
Andrew Black, Black Walnut/Grey Sweater
Zach Hutton, Scratch Paseo
Victoria Kemp, Florence’s Restaurant
Alex Bleakley, Everything PJ and Alex Eat
Andrew Murin, Paycom Center
Nic Nicholas, Nic’s Grill
Tabb Sington, Phat Tabb’s BBQ
Felix Cornejo, The Tamale King
Kevin Lee, Birdie’s Fried Chicken
Sean Cummings, Sean Cummings Irish Pub
Eric Smith, Pachinko
Robby Vernon and Larry Dean Pickering, Hacienda Tacos
Andrew Gautreaux, Holey Rollers and The Red Rooster
Tim Heitzman, Rescue Dog Hot Sauce
Veronica Zelada, Café Kacao
Ana Sofia Del Cid, Café Antigua
Caleb Stangroom, The Bradford House
Anna Bui, Bui’s Breads and Mouse Bakes
Loretta Barrett Oden, The First Americans Museum
Angela Chase, Flora Bodega
Gil Gentry, formerly Gaijin Sushi
John Madore, formerly of Picasso’s Cafe
Beau Stephenson, 74 and Bin 73
Marc Dunham, Nashbird
There is no admission price to enter the event, but you will need $5 tokens sold at the event. You can buy them in advance at the presale shop. There are still some slots available on our volunteer team.
Chefs couldn’t serve without help from Ben E. Keith Foods and Sun Noodle. Look for giveaways at the event from sponsors Yeo’s beverages and Sapporo USA. Orion beer will be available, too.
Chefs Fest splits the Asian Night Market Festival, which begins at 5 p.m. at Military Park on Friday and Saturday. Jenny Nguyen’s new restaurant, Bun Box, launches this weekend, too. Celebrity chef Danny Bowien will be there for it and promises to hang out at Chefs Fest.
Carryout News
Hopefully you read all about the birth of aVenue in the former Tony’s Italian Specialties space yesterday. That wasn’t the only piece of local property getting a fresh dining concept. Provisions Kitchens will soon open another Hatch Early Mood Food location in Edmond’s new Regent Center development on the west side of Interstate 35 between Second and 15th Streets. It will be joined by a new Chicken Foot, which Provisions launched during the pandemic in Chisholm Creek.
As mentioned in my review of Riserva from last week, the company also announced plans to bring the James Beard Award-nominated Vecina to Chisholm Creek next year. Like Riserva, Vecina is a chef-driven restaurant with a menu chock full of shareable dishes. Whereas Riserva does a lap around the Mediterranean Sea for inspiration, Vecina reaches to the tip of South America and all points between.
On top of a new Chicken Foot and Hatch, Edmond will also soon be home to the second-ever Waffle Champion. The longtime Midtown stalwart will bring its gourmet waffle sandwiches to 1200 W Covell Road by October’s end.
Don’t look now, but word on the street is the Chicken Shack in Arcadia has done so well it’s eyeing expansion as far east of the metro as its current location is west.
Blue J’s Rockin’ Grill announced it was closing its Edmond Railyard location but would continue to roll with its food truck, Blue J’s Rollin’ Grill. Their social media post hinted at a new concept.
Hal Smith Restaurants closed its Louie’s Bar & Grill in Midtown.
Perhaps the biggest closing came when news emerged The Mantel in Bricktown will soon close and reopen fully rebranded. It will end 24 years in Bricktown.
Some chef news, Joshua Valentine recently left Milo, the restaurant inside The Ellison Hotel. Josh isn’t ready to announce his next move, other than a two-shift engagement at Chefs Fest, but his replacement is veteran chef Nathaniel Frejo.
Frejo isn’t the only chef on the move. The new Ramsay’s Kitchen coming to Chisholm Creek has lured chef Wyatt Rogers from Black Walnut.
Finally, during Odyssey de Culinaire chef David Henry stepped up for an ailing Alain Buthion. When he took the mike, the longtime chef from The Coach House, and The Hutch announced he and his wife’s intentions of moving to the Pacific Northwest this fall. Best of luck, chef, the 405 diningscape will have big shoes to fill.
Events
Prepare for Chefs Fest by supporting two of its alums, Kurt Fleischfresser and Kathryn Mathis. Kurt is the official mentor chef of Chefs Fest, and Kathryn participated in the preceding three. On Tuesday, Mathis turns her Pizzeria Gusto wood-burning oven over to The Big Kahuna. Fleischfresser will serve a special menu from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Uptown pizzeria. Make reservations here.
Taste of Asia Festival, Aug. 26 at Mayfair Church of Christ, 2340 NW 50th St., from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The Asia Society of Oklahoma puts on the event to raise money for its annual scholarship. Tickets are $15 for kids 5 to 10; all others are $20. Admission is free for kids under 5. Food Tasting operates 5.30 to 7 p.m.
The India Food and Art Festival, Sept. 10 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Scissortail Park. Hosted by the India Association of Oklahoma, the festival will features food, clothing , jewelry and stalls representing cultures from different regions of India. Dance dominates the entertainment, including Bollywood, classical temple dances, and folk dance. Live music will accompany those along with a fashion show. The festival will also include artists and a kids zone.
Thirst For a Cause, Aug. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 4040 N Lincoln Blvd. Wine-O’s unite to raise money for a food-service professional facing medical challenges not covered by insurance. It’s the 14th iteration of the event, which also takes place in Tulsa. The event draws about 30 premium wineries and about 200 wines along with 10 local restaurants for light bites. Guests can meet and interact with vintners who represent some of the best wines available in the nation. Tickets and more information can be found here.
*Chicken Shack