FOOD FIGHT!
Nine Albuquerque chefs ‘Duke It Out’ to benefit children’s charity
Competition in the name of charity is what Duke It Out is all about.
The friendly challenge between some of New Mexico’s favorite chefs goes down on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The event, in its third year, will feature nine chefs from area restaurants preparing two courses in support of El Ranchito de los Niños. The nonprofit was founded in 2000 by local ranchers and farmers Mike and Kathy Mechenbier. The organization provides a permanent home for siblings who might otherwise be separated in foster care, according to a El Ranchito de los Niños news release.
During the event, the participating chefs are given a limited time to prepare a basket of secret ingredients. Eventgoers are able to watch the chefs prep, cook and deliver their dishes, to be judged by culinary experts. Guests also will get to vote for the People’s Choice Award.
“It’s very exciting,” said Abby Eden, special events coordinator for El Ranchito de los Niños. “It gets very intense when the chefs are cooking and they have such a limited time so you see them being very focused but what they create at the end, watching their thought process and their skills right before your eyes, is so exciting. … You get to sample six entrees and three desserts so we have you covered on all bases so it’s a really fun event to attend.”
Duke It Out, now in its third year, will feature reigning champion Cristina Martinez, executive chef of Artichoke Cafe. Martinez won the event two years consecutively. Other participating chefs are Carrie Eagle of Farm & Table, Matthew Schnooberger of Freight House Kitchen & Tap, Sean Staggs of Los Poblanos Historic Inn, Raul Maestas of Ohana Hut, David Ruiz of Pueblo Harvest Cafe, Carrie Mettling of Rebel Donut, Michael Fram of Standard Diner and Mayanelli Brown of The Shop.
“The chefs are so kind and generous with their time,” Eden said. “As long as it’s not during their 30 minutes of actual cooking competition, you have 2½ other hours that you can be talking to them. They love to talk to the audience, and you can ask questions and these are a lot of everybody’s favorite restaurants to go to in Albuquerque. So you get to talk to the chef, which you normally don’t ever get to do.”
The event is the creation of Builders Source Appliance Gallery. The gallery also partners with other organizations for other charity events. All the Duke It Out proceeds go to El Ranchito de los Niños. Builders Source donated a Maytag washer and dryer set, Miele counter coffee maker, a GE Appliances chest freezer and a Los Poblanos Historic Farm overnight stay with meals as raffle prizes.
“We’re so fortunate because Builders Source Appliance Gallery picks up a majority of the cost of the entire event,” Eden said. “Therefore, 100 percent of the ticket proceeds come to us. They help us put together an amazing raffle for us and all of those ticket sales go to us. As well as, if anyone buys any appliances during that day or that evening during the event, they also donate 5 percent of all sales that day to us.”