This is the first of a series of cooking competitions designed to showcase the regional culinary traditions of Italy. Chefs from local Italian restaurants will be pitted against each other throughout the summer. The first event is “Liguria vs. Umbria”
Chef Ivo Mazzon from Joey’s Italian Café will cook for Liguria. He will prepare omelette with tuna and string beans; sweet and sour cod; and ricotta, mascarpone, and basil mousse with pine nuts. Corporate Executive Chef Will Ratley from Sub-zero and Wolf will cook for Umbria: stuffed eggplant, braised lamb shank with chestnuts, and rum and rice fritters. (Thanks to Coral Gables Blog for info on the dishes.) At the event, guests will be able to taste the dishes, along with wine pairings, and vote for their favorites. The audience will decide the winner.
That sounds promising because I have been to some of these cooking battles, and it’s such a tease to watch chefs prepare sumptuous dishes and then not get to taste any. However, that’s also why this event is not free. The cooking class costs $45. Also, it’s limited to 40 guests so you won’t have to (hopefully) elbow your way through a crowd. You must register and pay by Wednesday, May 20 to attend. Email info@iacc-miami.com to RSVP.
After the event, there will be a reception with wine and food samples, which costs $10 to attend.
When: Thursday, May 21. Cooking class/contest is from 6:30 pm to 8 pm, followed by reception until 9:30 pm. Contests will be held on the third Thursday of each month through September.
Where: Mia Cucina, 105 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
How much: $45 for cooking show, $10 for wine and food reception
