USA. Chicago O’Hare International Airport this week hosted the first ever “˜Channel Your Inner Chef’ culinary competition, created by HMSHost in partnership with the Chicago Department of Aviation.
Held by HMSHost in celebration of culinary innovation and its sponsorship of the 2015 James Beard Foundation Awards, the contest was open to all Chicago O’Hare International Airport employees and airport travellers. To enter, contestants submitted a five-minute video of themselves preparing a recipe. Video entries was received from across the nation, with five finalists selected for the airport cook-off yesterday (31 March).
Competing in front of a judging panel and travellers passing through O’Hare’s Terminal 2, the cook-off presented finalists with the challenge of creating an original recipe with a bounty of ingredients available to them at the start of the event. The panel comprised a diverse group of aviation professionals and guests in the Chicago community, and judging criteria included cooking technique, recipe, presentation, form, showmanship and taste.
Nikkia Stone, a line cook for HMSHost, clinched the victory with her dish of blackened jerk chicken and butternut squash. She will receive two VIP admissions to the James Beard Foundation Awards Gala on 4 May 2015 at Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as the opportunity to have her original culinary dish appear on the menu at an HMSHost restaurant at O’Hare.
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HMSHost and Chicago O’Hare International Airport representatives surrounding Nikkia Stone, winner of the Channel Your Inner Chef culinary contest (photo: Sheri Whitko Photography) |
HMSHost Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Yablun commented: “Each contestant did a spectacular job today. It has been so exciting to partner together with the Chicago Department of Aviation toward celebrating such innovation. Channel Your Inner Chef has demonstrated that Chicago attracts talented chefs from this great city, as well as from around the country, and this competition has been a great opportunity to find some of that talent right here at the airport.”
Chicago Department of Aviation – Concessions Deputy Commissioner Tiffany Green added: “The Chicago Department of Aviation is pleased to partner with HMSHost to feature this unique event for the enjoyment of passengers and employees at our global gateway, O’Hare International Airport. This contest helps promote Chicago’s rich, culinary diversity and the creative and talented chefs whose creations add flair and flavour to our city.”
