A team of chefs from the University of Lynchburg won “Best Entrée” at Jubilee Family Development Center’s Top Chef cooking contest on Saturday, Aug. 23.
The annual fundraiser pits local chefs against each other in what’s described as an “interactive, multicourse cooking competition between some of the best chefs in the Hill City.”
Lynchburg’s team consisted of Sous Chef John Barker and Cook Lead Dante Rosales, assisted by Dining Hall Manager Benuel Hostetter. The winning dish was a braised Korean beef short rib with miso-glazed bok choy, served over a bed of cilantro lime rice and garnished with toasted sesame seeds and pickled carrot.
“It was incredible,” said Hostetter, who plated the winning dish. “Top Chef is the Jubilee Center’s signature fundraising event. I know John holds this up as one of his favorite events each year and I can understand why.
“Getting to flex the culinary capabilities of our dining hall production team, while helping to support an organization that does so much good for our community was an incredibly fulfilling experience.”
It was also Rosales’s first time to participate in Top Chef. “I’m humble to be a part of it,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll be participating next time.”
Shaun Dearden, Lynchburg’s dining services director, said he is “incredibly proud” of his culinary team, adding, “This achievement is a perfect example of our team’s commitment to excellence and perfectly highlights the positive impact of our award-winning dining program, which extends beyond our campus to include the greater Lynchburg community.”
It was Barker’s third year to compete in the event and the second consecutive year that Lynchburg’s team won “Best Entrée.”
“It’s always an honor to compete at Top Chef at Jubilee,” Barker said. “The Jubilee Family Development Center is such a pillar in our community, and while it’s always an honor to be invited to compete, just knowing that our participation helps give back to this amazing program is all the reward needed.
“There are very few events you get to leave feeling like you made a difference in someone’s life in such an impactful way beyond just food. Top Chef … is a special event and I hope we can continue to participate in [it] for years to come.
“Being able to bring home another plaque to our award-winning dining services is just icing on the cake.”
