Defending team takes top title at Earls cook-off

Reigning champion team the Deciding Factor “steaked” its claim again this year by chopping out the competition at the annual cook-off competition at Earls Restaurant last week.

The teammates, who competed as individual participants rather than affiliating themselves with specific eateries, were chef Miguel Goncalves, chef Jamie McMath, and server Clayton Anderson, and the three were fairly self-assured heading into the cook-off.

“You’re never really sure when you’re dealing with judges, you never know what’s gonna happen,” said Goncalves. “But we were confident in our skills, between the three of us we have 40 years experience.”

Oranges were the secret ingredient of the competition, and the teams were required to use them in their starter, main and dessert dishes. Each team had 90 minutes total to prepare three dishes.

For its appetizer, the Deciding Factor prepared a honey orange and tuna tartar with smoked tuna and tortilla crisp. The team’s entrée was a wood roasted duck breast, monchego risotto and an orange pan jus, and its dessert was a flourless chocolate tort with freshly-made orange ice cream. 

In second place was the team from O’Shea’s, server Aimee MacLeod and chefs Kevin Haslam and Sam Omdal, and in third was the team from the Jasper Brewing Company, server Jake Derksen and chefs Wendel Faurillo and Tim Hutchingson. 

The prize for first place was $750, $250 for second, and a selection of gift cards for the third place team. A fourth team, from Earls Restaurant, took part in the competition. 

Judges of the event were DJ Bowen, Darren Thom, Penny McKenna, Lena Olson, Jared Fraser and Ed Sodke. 

Organizers for the annual cook-off said they are looking to make it bigger and better for next year with more teams and perhaps making it a part of Jasper in January.