Page 34 - Southern Oregon Magazine Winter 2018

buzz | tidbits

Coy Wimberly and Dezmond Barros
Photo by Graham Lewis

ASHLAND CULINARY FESTIVAL
This past November over 1,500 visitors and locals enjoyed the 11th
annual Ashland Culinary Festival, a destination culinary event by pro-
duced by Travel Ashland. The festival welcomed more attendees and
delicious vendors than any other year in its history. Throughout the
weekend there were sold out hands-on culinary workshops, local sam-
plings from food artisans and award-winning wineries and breweries,
and the weekend’s center point the Top Chef Competition where 12
local chefs competed for the 2017 Top Chef title.

THE TOP CHEF COMPETITION RESULTS WERE AS FOLLOWS:
Round one winner—Josh Dorcak of MÄS received the highest score
for round one with the secret ingredients of crab and shrimp, requiring
chefs to prepare both a soup and sandwich. Chef Dorcak brought along
his eight-year-old son, Caswell, to compete with him for the weekend
as his sous chef. This was an audience favorite to watch!

Round two winner—Skye Elder of Brickroom received the highest
score for round two with the secret ingredient of turkey breast, requir-
ing chefs to prepare an entrée.
Round three winner: Stefano Cipollone of Standing Stone Brewing
Co. received the highest score for round three with the secret ingredi-
ent of Tawanda Farms lamb and chanterelles, requiring chefs to pre-
pare an entrée.

These three Chefs advanced to the final round along with Brent
Herud of Larks Restaurant who earned the fourth slot in the final as
the Judge’s Choice Wild Card Chef. In the final round, Skye Elder
of Brickroom earned the most points with his execution of Wild Coho
Salmon Two Ways on one plate. Chef Elder’s plate included Coriander
Seared Coho with Coconut Jasmine Rice and a Wasabi Caramel Lomi
Lomi Salmon and Radish Napoleon. With this win, Chef Elder earned
his first Top Chef award from the Ashland Culinary Festival. Chef Elder
is a local Southern Oregon University graduate.
www.ashlandchamber.com

Top Mixologists— Freddie, Jess and Ross
Photo by Graham Lewis

Josh Dorcak and Caswell Dorcak
Photo by Graham Lewis

32 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | winter 2018