Chef Charles Kassels takes home a Heavy Medal

A capacity house cheered as El Chorro Lodge's Executive Chef Charles Kassels and his team stirred up victory at Arizona's Careers in Culinary Arts Program's (C-CAP) Heavy Medal competition this past weekend.

Assisted by Chef Jared Porter, of The Parlor, and 2010 C-CAP scholarship winner Chelsea Edwards, now in culinary studies at The Art Institute of Phoenix, Chef Kassels used wild mushrooms to develop two lush dishes featuring wild mushrooms, this year's secret ingredient.

Porcini cavatelli with Romano sauce and wild mushroom stroganoff with crème fraiche and bordelaise sauce proved irresistible to judges, who gave the dishes a combined score of 9.133. Judging criteria included taste, originality, use of the secret ingredient, and presentation.

Bob Bondurant of Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Debbie Gaby, Co-Founder and President of Sleep America, and Phoenix Suns Coach Alvin Gentry were joined by two lucky members of the audience to sample the dishes created by Chef Kassels and competitor Francesco Roccato, executive chef of the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort, which hosted the event.

3rd HEAVY MEDAL CULINARY COMPETITION

with DINNER AND AUCTION

All the facts you need to know!

A CULINARY COMPETITION AND DINNER

Presented by Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), Arizona

Description: Two renowned chefs, FRANCESCO ROCCATO, InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa, and CHARLES KASSELS, El Chorro Lodge Restaurant, will compete to impress celebrity judges and a few lucky audience members with their range of culinary artistry and expertise at this challenge!

Guests will enjoy a special four-course dinner with expertly matched wines. Dessert will be prepared by Julia Baker of Julia Baker Confections. http://www.juliabakerconfections.com

THREE AUDIENCE MEMBERS will have a chance to join the celebrity judges in selecting the winner! Bob Bondurant of Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Debbie Gaby, Co-Founder and President of Sleep America, are returning to judge the event. Phoenix Suns Coach Alvin Gentry will join the two other judges.

http://www.bondurant.com

http://www.sleepamerica.com

http://www.nba.com/suns/index_main.html

FIVE ENTICING AUCTION ITEMS will be up for bid! For example, we have a 4-hour performance driving experience at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.

C-CAP students will assist in meal preparation and dinner service.

Date: Sunday, September 19, 2010

Time: 6:00 – 8:30 P.M.

Where: INTERCONTINENTAL MONTELUCIA RESORT AND SPA

4949 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley AZ 85253

480.627.3200

http://www.icmontelucia.com

Participating Chefs: CHEF FRANCESCO ROCCATO is the Director of Culinary Arts at

this outstanding resort. He leads the research and development of culinary concepts, sourcing of products and the exceptional service provided at Prado restaurant, ROQ and banquet/wedding catered events. He is an active member of the Slow Food movement and ensures the freshest quality ingredients are used. CHEF ROCCATO grew up in Torino, Italy. After completing his program at the Culinary Institute of Canada, he participated in culinary competitions and working for Canadian Pacific Hotels. Later he earned his master’s in Italian cuisine in Costigliole d’Asti, Italy. Prior to joining Montelucia, CHEF ROCCATO was at the InterContinental Hotel Valencia in Spain followed by the InterContinental Cleveland, Ohio.

CHEF CHARLES KASSELS is masterfully continuing the legacy of El Chorro Lodge – the 70-year old landmark restaurant in Paradise Valley. CHEF KASSELS returned to his native Arizona from the Four-Diamond Old House Restaurant at the El Dorado Resort in Santa Fe, NM. After training at the Culinary Institute of America, he worked at the Westin Kierland Resort, the Boulders, Continental Catering and at Barmouche. He enjoys a distinguished reputation in Arizona and looks forward to accomplishing even more. http://www.elchorrolodge.com

Guests: 150

Tickets: $175 per person

Ticket Line: 623.594.0117 or http://www.blacktie-arizona.com event code: ccap2010

Beneficiary: Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) works with public schools across the country to prepare underserved high school students for college and career opportunities in the restaurant and hospitality industry. A national nonprofit organization founded in 1990 by well-known chef and author, Richard Grausman, C-CAP manages the largest independent culinary scholarship program in the United States and has awarded high school students $31 million in scholarships and donated $2.5 million worth of supplies and equipment to classrooms. C-CAP operates programs in seven locations: New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Philadelphia; Hampton Roads, VA; Prince George’s County, Maryland; and statewide in Arizona.

For more information about C-CAP, visit www.ccapinc.org.

Sponsorship: Sponsorship packages are available at $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, and $10,000. Call Sharon Levinson at 623.594.0117.

Let the competition begin!

Chefs Roccato and Kassels will bring their best weapons (knives included) to the Heavy Medal Competition set for September 19 at the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa.

Chef Kassels demonstrates an interesting knife technique to Chef Roccato (center), and Heavy Medal assistants Chelsea Edwards and Chef Jared Porter, The Parlor. Chelsea Edwards, Chef Roccato, Chef Kassels and Chef Porter are set to compete at Heavy Medal. Two chefs, two teams - and one "secret ingredient" for ONE Heavy Medal. Who will carry the prize away this year? Be there on September 19 and find out for yourself!

Heavy Medal

Set to face off in the 2010 Heavy Medal competition are Chefs FRANCESCO ROCCATO, InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa, and CHARLES KASSELS, El Chorro Lodge Restaurant.

2010 teachers’ workshop set for Sept. 11

from Jill Smith

I hope you had a great summer and are ready to start another exciting school year! In March of 2010, C-CAP awarded $544,000 to 30 Arizona High School Seniors!

This coming year looks promising to have an even greater amount of scholarship money available to your senior students. We will also have many opportunities for your junior students. This meeting will provide 4 hours of continuing education hours. Please come to our 2010-2011 C-CAP Teacher Information Meeting:

Saturday, September 11 10am – 2pm

The Chef’s Loft, 7114 E. Stetson, Suite 250, Scottsdale, 85251

Agenda:

10am – 11:30am C-CAP information

11:30-11:45am – Randy Kaas, POURfect products

11:45-12pm – Carlton Brooks, ACF Chef’s Association of Arizona President

12pm-12:30 – Lunch provided by Danish Chef Asta Pedersen

12:30-2pm – Nai Wang, Sous Chef 7

You are welcome to attend this meeting regardless if you are joining C-CAP. Come and find out what C-CAP has to offer you and your students!

Please RSVP to me by email – jsmith@ccapinc.org.

Please pass this email along to other culinary teachers who may be interested.

I am looking forward to another great year working with you and your students.

Jill Smith,

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)

Arizona Director