Top Iron City Chef Competition

Fourth Annual Iron Chef Competition Held at Jefferson State

Pictured are competitors in the Iron Chef Competition. First row: Justin Fowler, Tony Jackson, 2nd row: Brian Lucas, Chef Angela Schmidt, Chef Joseph Mitchell, Brett Brewer, Chef Jeremy Downey and assistant, Ashley Peterson, Christina ElMurr, 3rd row: Cory Harrell, Chef Brittany Garrigus, Chef Sean Butler.

Jeremy Downey, executive chef of Vestavia’s popular Bistro V, was the winner at Vestavia Hills Rotary’s fourth annual Iron City Chef Cook-off at the Jefferson State Culinary Institute.

Downey’s initial menu of beef tenderloin, crab-stuffed shrimp, scalloped potatoes and double fudge brownie with peach ice cream won rave reviews from the sell-out crowd and placed him in a cook-off final with runner-up Chef Brittany Garrigus.

Within 30 minutes, each chef created an entrée and dessert from surprise ingredients, and Downey was selected the winner by a panel of four judges.

Downey’s sous chef, Christinia El Murr, won a $1,000 scholarship for her assistance.
Garrigus, a Jefferson State Culinary Institute graduate, is executive pastry chef at The Club.

Iron Chef Runner-up Chef Brittany Garrigus (L)
(The Club) and winner
Chef Jeremy Downey (bistro V).

 Guests enjoyed gourmet dishes prepared by the four competing chefs and student assistants, an extensive wine-tasting presented by Western Supermarkets and live Dixieland and jazz music by Sweet Licks.

A silent auction and raffle offered fine art, fine jewelry, a luxury vacation, a scholarship to the Viking Cooking School and other prizes.

Leading planners for the event were Rotarians Kent Howard, Josh Watkins, Scott Huner, Ted Strong and Joseph Mitchell, director of the Culinary Institute.

Among the more than 300 guests were:
Ray and Martha Hester, Larry and Alice Lee, Joe and Nell Staab, Joe Perez, Iraj Sooudi, Mona Fisher and Greg Ruff, Terry Cook, Martha and Ray Hester, Josh and Ann Watkins, Kent and Lisa Howard, Liz and Wayne Pate, Debbie and Ron Musgrove; Ted and Christy Strong, Todd Jackson, Glenn Rinsky, Todd Taylor, Lee Mathews, Jalona and Jay Patton, Kent and Lisa Howard, Scott and Sherry Huner, Becky and Bob Bradley, Nancy Selman, Scott Selman and Patti and Steve Lynch.

Winner Chef Jeremy Downey

and assistant JSCC CHI student, 

Christina ElMurr, receives $1000 scholarship.

Proceeds from the charity event will support the Vestavia schools’ math and debate teams, local disaster relief and Rotary International’s “End Polio Now!” campaign.

The Over the Mountain Journal