The Del’s Windsor Lawn set the scene for an unforgettable evening on Thursday, June 9 when thirty of San Diego and Baja’s best chefs gathered to present signature hors d’oeuvres and desserts expertly paired with offerings from San Diego breweries and Valle de Guadalupe wineries by Baja Wine+Food. There was live entertainment too, while a live and silent auction rounded out the evening. Held to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation over $70,000 was raised overall to assist its ongoing mission to cure cystic fibrosis.
Chefs were judged by an esteemed Culinary Council that included Brian Malarkey, Claudia Sandoval, Troy Johnson, Serge Dedina, Sam Zien, Jack Ford, Michele Parente, Tommy Gomes, Andre Zotoff, Javier Plascencia and Lead Judge Richard Sandoval.
Chef Rob Ruiz of The Land & Water Company clinched first in the Judges Award with his Konbu cured San Diego Halibut Bincho yakatori grilled with Cannon Farms roasted corn and heirloom tomato succotash and live San Diego uni Créme fresh, walking away with the top prize of a La Caja China in addition to the Chef Flor Franco Award for Culinary Excellence.
Next up was Chef Marco Marin of Latitude 32 Restaurant at El Cielo Winery, who scored an all-inclusive trip to Valle De Guadalupe for six people with his Pork Belly Fried Tacos with recado negro sauce, onions, radish, curtidos, avocado cream and micro cilantro, while Chef Denise Roa of Rancho La Puerta took home third place, winning a custom JENDE Knife and cutting board Chefs Spoon, for her Seafood Causa Rellena.
The People’s Choice Award went to Chef Geordie Moulios of Big City Chefs for his Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Loin stuffed with goat cheese and rocket, vanilla bean roasted brussel sprouts and Persian saffron risotto. While Chef Jessica Scott of Puesto claimed victory as “The Best For Last Dessert Winner” for her Horchata Cheesecake with rum caviar and raspberry merengue.
Participating Restaurants & Chefs
Meredith Manee & Daphne Higa | Hotel del Coronado
Colin MacLaggan | Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits
Tommy Fraioli | Beaumont’s Eatery
Mario Cassineri | BiCE
Geordie Moulios | Big City Chefs
Bianca Castro | Biscotti’s Patisserie
Tim Kolanko | Blue Ridge Hospitality
Eduardo Baeza | City Tacos
Jon Eyer & Nick Villami | The Hard Rock Hotel
Isabel Cruz of Isabel Cruz Restaurant Group
Danilo “DJ” Tangalin | JRDN Restaurant at Tower 23
Robert Ruiz | The Land & Water Company
Alex Emery of La Valencia
Michael Poompan | Coronado Island Marriott
David Meade | Nobu
Jessica Scott & Luisteen Gonzalez | Puesto
Mary Sarain & Nikki Black | Pure Cupcakes
Denise Roa | Rancho La Puerta
Jeffrey Rottinghaus | Peohe’s
Jaime Chavez | Sirena Cocina Latina
Ashley Drake | The Chocolate Lush
Thomas Connolly | Stone Brewing World Bistro
Jeff Roberto | Sushi On a Roll
Phillip Esteban | The Cork & Craft
Miguel Valdez | The Red Door
Marco Sedda | Vigilucci’s Restaurant
Marco Marin | “Latitud 32” El Cielo Winery & Restaurant
Andre Alto | Don Chido
Jorge Gonzalez | Primavera Ristorante
Katherine Johnson | Luce Bar & Kitchen
Lance Repp of University Club Atop Symphony Tower
Alberto Morreale | Farmer’s Bottega + Fig Tree Café
Jeremiah Bryant | Polanco Restaurant, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge, Stake Chophouse
All event photography courtesy of Field Guide.
Last year’s event in San Diego helped raise over $60,000 for the CFF with this year’s Chef Throwdown set to be the biggest and most successful yet. The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care. https://www.cff.org/
