Houston Chefs Deliver Amazing Dishes in Local Cookoff Competitions

If you missed all the great cooking competitions on April 8, 2018, don’t fret. Take notes, and make your way to some of Houston’s best restaurants and chefs to get a taste of their extraordinary creativity.

14TH ANNUAL HOUSTON CHICKEN SOUP COOKOFF

At the 14th Annual Houston Chicken Soup Cookoff held at Congregation Emanu-El, chefs from more than 40 of Houston’s top restaurants, representing all cuisines, took on the challenge of creating the best chicken soup. Categories were Traditional, International and Creative.

It was a great day filled with heart-melting aromas and flavors.  The event benefited the Houston Food Bank.

Winners are:

Traditional Category

  1. Kenny & Ziggy’s
  2. B& B Butchers
  3. Chef Ellen

Creative

  1. Johnathan’s the Rub
  2. Chef Michelle
  3. Twin Peaks

International

  1. Biggio’s
  2. Geo’s Catering
  3. Villages of Meyerland

 

PHOTOS FOR CHICKEN SOUP COOKOFF:                V. SWEETEN

 

TACOS OVER TEXAS

The Tacos Over Texas event gathered momentum in the interest of education. Chefs showed off their cooking skills in this friendly competition celebrating Houston’s passion for the taco al carbon, popularized by “Mama Ninfa” Laurenzo.

Tacos Over Texas, held on Sunday, April 8, 2018. The Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund (TNLSF) sponsored the event in collaboration with The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation and El Tiempo Cantina.

Winners are:

First Place: Chef Donny Navarette, Laurenzo’s—Carnitas-style Prime Rib Taco with guacamole cream

Second Place: Chef Kiran Verma, Kiran’s—Lamb Keema and Gobi (cauliflower) taco with cumin, ginger and English peas in chickpea shells

Third Place: Chef Alex Padilla, The Original Ninfa’s On Navigation—Lamb Taco with hummus and pomegranate seeds

People’s Choice: Chef David Cordúa, Churrascos—Carnitas Taco topped with queso fresco and plantain

Most Creative: Chef Robert Del Grande, Cafe Annie—Breakfast Taco with pumpkin seeds, eggs, queso fresco, poblano chile sauce and white onions

PHOTOS FOR TACOS OVER TEXAS BY MONRO PHOTOGRAPHY