DINING UPDATES
Food Dude Dave Cathey shares the latest news on the Oklahoma City area dining scene
Icommend those of you resisting the pull of the digital vortex, but this week it might've cost you a shot at a free meal.
While I was on my monthlong walk-away from dining out, veteran operators Leo and Sophia Chen opened a new concept across from their wildly popular Szechuan Bistro on Memorial Road.
Leo spent five months doing the build-out on Masa Ramen and Sushi, 1001 W Memorial Rd., with a small crew and the result is eye-opening. Inside this
brand-new but nondescript strip center, you'll find a chic, modern interior with a fully stocked bar, ramen counter and full-service dining room.
Behind the bar you'll find Don Kerr, formerly of Kwan's Kitchen, who also is the general manager.
Since Monday, Leo and Sophia have been on a campaign to prove there is such a thing as a free lunch. In fact, they doubled down on the gambit and are serving free dinner, too.
But Thursday is the final day for the free menu, which includes Tokatsu Ramen and Edamame, Grilled Chicken Ramen and Pork Gyoza, Tonkatsu Ramen and California Roll, the signature OKC Roll and Bagel Roll, or the Beautiful Alaska and Firework Rolls.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Thursday, with closing time 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Send pics from the line!
Winners, winners, chicken dinners!
It's competition season, and at the center
of it is the Oklahoma Restaurant Association's Culinary Cook-Off.
Sponsored by Market Source, this year's winner was chef Marc Guizol, of Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. He is the second chef from that club to take home the gold. He edged chef Peter Finnegan, of
Ludivine, who finished second. The two faced off in an hour-long battle using a variety of seafood provided by Super Cao Nguyen Market. With the help of a culinary assistant, each chef created two dishes within the 60 minutes, but Guizol's final dish won a photo finish.
Guizol and Finnegan fought off 10 other chefs from across the state over two days of competition to go toe-to-toe. For the efforts, Guizol won $3,000 with Finnegan taking home $1,500.
Guizol's victory also was culinary student Trisha Bear's. She took home $250 and Finnegan's assistant Alex Ward won $150. Third place went to defending champion Danh Do, of
Gogi Go, and his assistant Shanekia Leake. They won $750 and $100. Fourth went to the team of chef Branden Bentley, of Smoke Owasso, and his assistant Bailey Bucher, good for $375 and $50.
Guizol isn't the only freshly minted champ. Earlier this month, the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma held their
Cookies & Cocktails competition, which made a winner out of Eric Fossett and his team at Scottie's Deli — twice.
A group of judges led by chefs Shelby Sieg, of The Pritchard; Victoria Kemp, of Florence's Restaurant;
Russ Johnson, of Ludivine;
Loretta Barrett Oden, of “Seasoned With Spirit: A Native Cook's Journey,” and bunch of media types chose Scottie's as the winner in Best Savory and Best Cocktail. Best Sweet dish went to Jarrod Friedel and his gang from Guyutes.
The People's Choice Award went to Hacienda Tacos.
The challenge for the event was to create dishes and cocktails using Girl Scout cookies as ingredients. The event at the Farmers Public Market event center supported the good work done by the Girls Scouts of Western Oklahoma.
Quick Bite
“Hamilton” might have ended its run at the Civic Center, but The Hamilton will open in The Shoppes at Northpark on Friday. The mall might not be a good place to go to the movies anymore, but the new concept from Cafe 7 owners Chris Kana and Jimmy Mays promises a great place to sit and relax for a couple hours with a modern menu with a throwback spirit from chef Michael Paske.