Savory Chocolate is something not everyone likes. The iconic chocolate is sweet. However, even as someone who likes the sweeter side of chocolate, I had trouble rating my favorite taste! There were 4 chefs competing last month. One of them a dual header with a 2 chef team that clinched victory.
So, I gave away the secret, but I didn’t even get down to the details. Paul Caravelli and Greg Gaardbo weren’t the only chefs competing. Chef Miguel Ranguel served up a mole in under an hour using his grandmother’s own bowl. He certainly came to win, but Lucky Strike wasn’t on his side this time.
The Marshmallow Fairy, Jennifer Erin Cox went savory with chocolate coated biscuits that were filled. The tastes were a little messy but so worth needing a napkin.
Chef Criag Couper of Michael Jordon’s Steakhouse brought his crew in red, ready to battle. They went with a classic meat and potatoes dish finishing with a savory chocolate sauce. Perfectly cooked potatoes are hard to pull off in a time limit with enough needed for the entire crowd. Remember these chefs are cooking on different equipment than you would find in their kitchens. Honestly, we are always impressed with what these chefs manage to turn out during a fight.
However, some chefs go above and beyond. Gaardbo and Caravelli crafted special engraved wooden plates. Space for not only a candle but also the imperial stout that paired with the steak. I think the secret to their victory is having an overall plan for the theme. Their dish would not lose integrity with the options offered in the pantry. Together they crafted a plate that anyone would have tried to steal from the judges. I’m certain more than one person thought about it. I know we did. You can find these two chefs at either Chicago Culinary Kitchen or Knife & Tine (look for a review on the blog this week!)
So while the battle of the Savory Chocolate will remain in our memories until next year, we are anticipating the battle of the Pork. We will be witnessing an epic battle at the Chop House in Wicker Park this Wednesday from 6-9PM.
You can still buy tickets. As always tickets include 2 hours of open bar and the chance to sample the dish of each battling chef. All of this supports FIGHT2FEED which feeds the hungry in Chicago. Who do you think will take home the title?
