This was my first Culinary Fight Club (CFC) competition! Let me tell you, this event was heaven for any Foodie. Being surrounded by fellow Foodies all while drinking, eating, and enjoying some healthy competition made for a memorable night!
This months theme was Chicago Street Food, CFC brought in six chefs from across the Chicago area to make their interpretation of Chicago street food. It was so incredible to watch as the chefs planed, prepped, and prepared their dishes in under 60 minutes. Watching them from setup of their stations, to stalking the pantry before the competition, to the drawing of the contestant number, and finally the race 45 second race to the pantry all leads up to the main event the competition to create the best dish.
I am most defiantly going to go to another Culinary Fight Club competition! It really sparked the Foodie inside of me!
This Months Chefs
Left: Chef Davis Rolon of Devon Seafood Grill, Chef Phil Wingo of Pork Mafia, Chef Nicholas Saponaro of ZED 451, Chef Mildred Ayala a Home Chef/Kitchen Inspector, Chef Ben Karawoski, Chef James Bernstien of the Lake Villa Fire Dept
I spy some #Chicago pig plates! Favorite team? Maybe. #StreetFood #CulinaryFightClub in progress!
What is Culinary Fight Club?
Culinary Fight Club 
hosts live cooking competitions. No two events are the same. The teams of cooks race for 45 seconds to choose 15 ingredients from the pantry of food provided by Reinhart Foodservice.
Once the ingredients are collected, each team has 60 minutes to construct a dish that depicts their take on the monthly theme. These Chefs and cooks of all levels around the area compete for a “Golden Ticket,” to advance to the Super Bowl of “food sport” events, the World Food Championships! Once the timer hit 60 minutes, the audience members and judges sample and vote on a winning dish.
The most amazing part about this concept is that the Culinary Fight Club is partnered with Fight2Feed, which 20% of proceeds are donated. This is an organization that partners with top restaurants and food trucks to provide service and support to hungry men, women and children.
And The Winners Are …….
Both winners received their “Golden Ticket,” to advance to the World Food Championships!
Audience Choice Winner
Chef Nicholas Saponaro
ZED 451
Judges Winner
Chef Mildred Ayala
Home Chef/Kitchen Inspector