Last week you met Amy, Darius, Joelen and Joey in Round 1 of our Virtual Kitchen Stadium competition. Celebrity chef Rick Bayless chose Joelen and Joey as the victors of Battle Cherry, who both move on to Week 3's cookoff.
This week let us introduce you to our next group of virtual cooks.
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Meet the chefersons*, part 2
MATCHUP NO. 1: TITUS VS. EDDIE
Meet Titus Ruscitti
Titus, or King Tizzle as he's known on his blog, is a 27 y/o lifelong resident of Chicago via Lincoln Park. He's a 3 time Chicago chili champ (1 time runner up).
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
To compete for fun
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants? Vito and Nicks, Half
Shell, Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, Johnnie's, 35th st. Red Hots,
Harold's Chicken, Gene & Georgetti, Cafe Trinidad, Wieners Circle, El
Barco, Taqueria al asadero
What's your ultimate dish?
Anything BBQ on the beach
What foods could you not live without?
Mexican Food-all of it
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
One time I tried to bake and since it was something I had never done I forgot that stuff rises and the cake I was trying to make ended up layered all over on the bottom of the oven and I decided right then and there
that baking wasn't for me.
Meet Eddie Lakin
After 15 or so years working as a cook, chef, and restaurant manager, Eddie is currently working on opening his own restaurant (think Five Guys' meets Hot Doug's), spending time taking care of his two kids (Henry, 4 and Nora, 1) and blogging about it all. Watch the blog for news about the restaurant--opening late summer/early fall '09!
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
Inexplicably, The Food Network has not asked me to appear on Iron Chef yet, so this seemed like the next best thing. Take note, Iron Chef Flay!
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants?
Barnaby's for pizza. Al's for beef. Weiner's Circle for cheese fries.
What's your ultimate dish?
Great barbecue--ribs, shoulder, or brisket--cornbread, vinegary slaw, baked beans, beer, a hot summer day, and a big crowd of friends and family.
What foods could you not live without?
Bacon, Diet Coke, Peanut Butter.
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
Rice. I can't cook it. I've tried it 20 different ways, and it's always a dismal, sticky failure. One time I was cooking rice in the microwave and it burned so bad that I had to throw the dish away. The microwave is just now starting to not smell like burned rice, 2 years later.
MATCHUP NO. 2: JENN VS. JASON
Jenn Hays
Jenn lives in Lakeview. She was a personal chef for a Kosher family for 7 months and now works for Levy Restaurants at the United Center where she creates the club and restaurant menus and is looking to get more involved with the culinary team. And, of course she tries to run into as many 'Hawks players as she can.
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
I love to cook and I also love a good challenge, so when I read about the cookoff in the RedEye on the way to work one morning, I knew I had to "tryout." I like to pair flavors in interesting ways and will try almost anything, so I thought this cookoff would be a great way to do more of that!
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants?
I love Tweet, M.Henry, and Milk & Honey Cafe for Brunches, Lula Cafe, Hopleaf, Earwax, Glenn's Diner, and Tank Sushi anytime, and David Burke's Primehouse for special occasions.
What's your ultimate dish?
My ultimate dish to make is baked salmon with fresh dill and lemon, paired with white wine-Parmesan risotto and mashed butternut squash with roasted garlic. My ultimate dish to eat would be any sort of red curry and veggies.
What foods could you not live without?
I could not live without crunchy peanut butter, although I probably should. I have no restraint. Also: Tomato soup, Greek yogurt, cheese, mustard, and fruit.
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
Besides not having a kitchen for several weeks recently, I tried to make marshmallows a few months back that turned out more like gummy sugar squares than anything resembling a light fluffy marshmallow. And I burned my arms with boiling sugar. Ouch.
Jason Bailin
Jason is an investment consultant living on the North Side. Armed with his spatula, and what his friends and mother assured him was a great idea, he set out to write, potentially, the most talked about cookbook ever. The result was "Get in the Kitchen, BIT@HES!" (bitchcooks.com WARNING: Totally politically, yet fun, incorrect material on this site), which he self-published in July, 2008. He would like to thank his Mother, Father, brothers, sister-in-law, nephew and soon to be niece, for all the love and support.
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
Because I wanted to be recognized on the streets of Chicago.
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants?
Sapori, Erwin,Friendship
What's your ultimate dish?
I love to experiment with combining different cuisines.. that being said.. my chicken curry tacos are awesome. Also at the top of the list are my braised Asian BBQ pork ribs, and Pasta with a Mexican inspired bolgenese.
What foods could you not live without?
Lamb... I just love Lamb. I also love all kinds of vegetables, and being a native New Yorker, Pizza is a must.
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
I tried to bake once. Not good. Not good at all.. I am a cook... not a pastry chef.
Meet Titus Ruscitti
Titus, or King Tizzle as he's known on his blog, is a 27 y/o lifelong resident of Chicago via Lincoln Park. He's a 3 time Chicago chili champ (1 time runner up).
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
To compete for fun
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants? Vito and Nicks, Half
Shell, Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, Johnnie's, 35th st. Red Hots,
Harold's Chicken, Gene & Georgetti, Cafe Trinidad, Wieners Circle, El
Barco, Taqueria al asadero
What's your ultimate dish?
Anything BBQ on the beach
What foods could you not live without?
Mexican Food-all of it
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
One time I tried to bake and since it was something I had never done I forgot that stuff rises and the cake I was trying to make ended up layered all over on the bottom of the oven and I decided right then and there
that baking wasn't for me.
Meet Eddie Lakin
After 15 or so years working as a cook, chef, and restaurant manager, Eddie is currently working on opening his own restaurant (think Five Guys' meets Hot Doug's), spending time taking care of his two kids (Henry, 4 and Nora, 1) and blogging about it all. Watch the blog for news about the restaurant--opening late summer/early fall '09!
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
Inexplicably, The Food Network has not asked me to appear on Iron Chef yet, so this seemed like the next best thing. Take note, Iron Chef Flay!
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants?
Barnaby's for pizza. Al's for beef. Weiner's Circle for cheese fries.
What's your ultimate dish?
Great barbecue--ribs, shoulder, or brisket--cornbread, vinegary slaw, baked beans, beer, a hot summer day, and a big crowd of friends and family.
What foods could you not live without?
Bacon, Diet Coke, Peanut Butter.
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
Rice. I can't cook it. I've tried it 20 different ways, and it's always a dismal, sticky failure. One time I was cooking rice in the microwave and it burned so bad that I had to throw the dish away. The microwave is just now starting to not smell like burned rice, 2 years later.
MATCHUP NO. 2: JENN VS. JASON
Jenn Hays
Jenn lives in Lakeview. She was a personal chef for a Kosher family for 7 months and now works for Levy Restaurants at the United Center where she creates the club and restaurant menus and is looking to get more involved with the culinary team. And, of course she tries to run into as many 'Hawks players as she can.
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
I love to cook and I also love a good challenge, so when I read about the cookoff in the RedEye on the way to work one morning, I knew I had to "tryout." I like to pair flavors in interesting ways and will try almost anything, so I thought this cookoff would be a great way to do more of that!
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants?
I love Tweet, M.Henry, and Milk & Honey Cafe for Brunches, Lula Cafe, Hopleaf, Earwax, Glenn's Diner, and Tank Sushi anytime, and David Burke's Primehouse for special occasions.
What's your ultimate dish?
My ultimate dish to make is baked salmon with fresh dill and lemon, paired with white wine-Parmesan risotto and mashed butternut squash with roasted garlic. My ultimate dish to eat would be any sort of red curry and veggies.
What foods could you not live without?
I could not live without crunchy peanut butter, although I probably should. I have no restraint. Also: Tomato soup, Greek yogurt, cheese, mustard, and fruit.
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
Besides not having a kitchen for several weeks recently, I tried to make marshmallows a few months back that turned out more like gummy sugar squares than anything resembling a light fluffy marshmallow. And I burned my arms with boiling sugar. Ouch.
Jason Bailin
Jason is an investment consultant living on the North Side. Armed with his spatula, and what his friends and mother assured him was a great idea, he set out to write, potentially, the most talked about cookbook ever. The result was "Get in the Kitchen, BIT@HES!" (bitchcooks.com WARNING: Totally politically, yet fun, incorrect material on this site), which he self-published in July, 2008. He would like to thank his Mother, Father, brothers, sister-in-law, nephew and soon to be niece, for all the love and support.
Why did you want to participate in this virtual cookoff?
Because I wanted to be recognized on the streets of Chicago.
What are your favorite Chicago restaurants?
Sapori, Erwin,Friendship
What's your ultimate dish?
I love to experiment with combining different cuisines.. that being said.. my chicken curry tacos are awesome. Also at the top of the list are my braised Asian BBQ pork ribs, and Pasta with a Mexican inspired bolgenese.
What foods could you not live without?
Lamb... I just love Lamb. I also love all kinds of vegetables, and being a native New Yorker, Pizza is a must.
What's the biggest disaster you've had in the kitchen?
I tried to bake once. Not good. Not good at all.. I am a cook... not a pastry chef.
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5 Comments
Joey Morelli said:
Barnaby's has the best pizza. Every time I walk in the place, it's like going back to childhood (plus a pitcher of beer).
getinthekitchen said:
Wow, Jason is really cute.. wouldn't you agree?
Jimmy Greenfield said:
Couldn't agree more. Barnaby's is by far the best pizza I've ever had.
edlakin said:
Joey, yes! Too bad they still don't have the little lighted signs at the table that tell you when your pizza is ready! (btw, love the radio show!)
Joey Morelli said:
"Family Values with an Oy Vey" is a lot of fun to do. Especially when Mom calls in. I swear it's no joke that you can tell in the first second by the tone of her voice if me & Greg are in trouble!
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