Events/Nickel City Chef gains national renown
By Rachel Fix Dominguez
Ivy Knight, Kevin Brauch, Mary Luz Mejia, and Regina Schrambling.

Bert Gambini (left) hosts an NCC event.
As the Nickel City Chef cooking competition enters its third season in 2011, it has attracted national notice and critical acclaim, and this season’s participant list reflects that. The 2011 guest judges for the Iron Chef-style cook-off include Toronto food writer and chef Ivy Knight, Canadian television producer and food writer Mary Luz Mejia, Regina Schrambling of Epicurious.com (who is both lampooned and complimented by culinary superstar Anthony Bourdain in his latest book, Medium Raw), and Food Network’s Kevin Brauch (Alton Brown’s right-hand man on Iron Chef America and host of Fine Living Network’s Thirsty Traveler). Local judges will include Spree food writer Alan Bedenko, wine expert John Bourdage, rocker Nelson Starr, and comedienne Kristen Becker.

One of the most interesting aspects of the NCC competition is its focus on locally grown and locally crafted artisanal ingredients. Past events have featured potatoes from Promised Land in Alden, sausage from Spar’s, and shiitake mushrooms from Chautauqua County’s Green Heron Growers. There will be four shows in 2011 (February 20, March 6, March 27, and April 10, all at Artisan Kitchens & Baths, 200 Amherst St.) and many fans are already trying to guess what this season’s secret ingredients might be.

In addition to shining a spotlight on WNY’s edible bounty, Nickel City Chef allows local chefs to showcase bigtime skills. The NCC hometeam includes Krista Van Wagner (Curly’s), Brian Mietus (Bacchus), Adam Goetz (Sample), and the undefeated JJ Richert (Torches). Challengers apply for the opportunity to compete against one of these top chefs in front of a live audience. Christa Glennie Seychew, owner of Feed Your Soul, the company that produces NCC, says, “What we want our audience to realize is that our local pool of culinary talent is as exciting, gifted, and capable as any of the stars cooking on television. But if they spend ninety hours a week in their kitchen, how would any of us know that? NCC is designed to bolster our pride, as a region, in the chefs and farmers we have right here in our own backyards.”

For $35, guests enjoy catered hors d’oeuvres, in addition to a fascinating culinary contest. Each episode is hosted by WBFO’s Bert Gambini with color commentary by Chef Mike Andrzejewski of the acclaimed SeaBar. And with the stellar line-up of out-of-town and local judges, it won’t be surprising if this year’s season sells out. See why NCC is getting a national buzz. Tickets go on sale for all four shows on January 14; links for purchasing tickets can be found at www.NickelCityChef.com.


Rachel Fix Dominguez is a proud Buffalo native who is excited by our region’s expanding culinary options.


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