Fifteen teams participated Saturday evening in Dance Marathon’s annual Top Chef competition at Now We’re Cookin’. Each team of three prepared an appetizer, entrée or dessert. During each of five rounds, one team presented their submission in each of the three categories. Two of six judges, including Northwestern President Morty Schapiro, Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald and Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, tasted and reviewed each dish.
Almost every team dominantly featured the secret ingredient, ginger, in either their team name (including everything from The Ginger Snaps to Gingervitus) or dish choice. Sponsor Whole Foods Market donated all of the contestant’s ingredients.
The DM 2010 MCs Jerred Roggensack, Chika Nwosu and Wade Askew hosted the almost three-hour long event, giving the audience a taste of what’s to be expected at next month’s thirty-hour marathon.
“I was just back in the kitchen and it’s insane,” said Roggensack between rounds. “But you know what they say, ‘if you can’t stand the heat, don’t come in!’”
In true Dance Marathon fashion, speakers from the beneficiaries and student performers entertained between breaks in the competition.
Eric Fox, one of the first Chicago volunteers with primary DM beneficiary Stand Up For Kids, described working with some of the city’s 6000 homeless youth. Naria Santa Lucia, Executive Director of the Evanston Community Defender Office, described the organization’s work providing legal service to low-income Evanston residents. The Community Defender Office is one of the organizations under the umbrella of secondary DM beneficiary The Evanston Community Foundation.
A cappella group Extreme Measures sang and stand-up comedy group NSTV’s Pat and Chris played guitar. Norris’s famous “sandwich guy” Maurice Nix competed with two audience members to make the best sandwich in 8 minutes.
The crowd overfilled the venue, located at 1601 Payne Street. Audience members cycled between watching the judges evaluate the dishes and observing the contestants prepare their dishes in the kitchen.
After the final round, the appetizer finalist was 1905c’s Ginger Soup, Salad and Sandwich Trio, the entrée finalist was Gingerlicious’s Garlic Ginger Seabass and the dessert finalist was Man versus Food’s Vanilla Ginger Ice Cream.
Audience reaction determined the ultimate winner between the finalists. Cheerleaders in banana and German milkmaid costumes represented Man versus Food while Gingerlicious’s supporters carried signs reading “Gingerlicious can wrap me in parchment paper,” nodding to their sea bass’s preparation method. In the end, the costumed supporters won the spirit competition, making Man Versus Food’s Jason Erickson, Michael Friedman and Joe Teno the Top Chef 2010 winners.