News

Save the Date! Diamond Chef is back with a “Diamond Dozen!”

Six standout chefs will be cooking to win as they vie for the title of Diamond Chef Arkansas 2019 at the “Diamond Dozen” 12th annual event on Thursday, April 11 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at UA - Pulaski Tech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Institute.

Six local chefs will compete in two elimination rounds to select a champion. This year’s chefs are:

• Amanda Ivy – Low Ivy Catering
• Brandon Douglas – Green Leaf Grill
• Jordan Davis – Chenal Country Club
• Jamie McAfee – Pine Bluff Country Club
• Izaak Winter – Yaya’s Euro Bistro
• Joseph Coleman – Little Rock Marriott

Diamond Chef Arkansas is modeled after the popular Food Network shows, Iron Chef America and Chopped. A mystery ingredient - to be revealed at the start of each round - must be prominently presented in the courses prepared by each chef. Competing chefs will have a fully-stocked pantry and may bring two sous chefs to assist them in the preparation. Judges will grade chefs on creativity, taste, and preparation.

“There is a fantastic line-up of chefs competing this year,” said Todd Gold, Diamond Chef co-founder and UA – Pulaski Tech Dean of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. “The judges will have their work cut out for them declaring a winner.”

Guests will not only enjoy the fast-paced culinary head-to-head competition, they can participate in activities throughout the state-of-the-art culinary facility while they enjoy fine wines and signature cocktails. They can enjoy fine foods from around the world at these Culinary Creations Stations:

• Sugarland - Chefs Jan Lewandowski, Chocla Lea and Cathy Kincaid
• Tasting the Titanic – Chef Robert Hall
• The British are Coming – Chef Suzanne Campbell
• The Battle of New Orleans – Chef Rob Best
• Pretzelmania! – Chef Billy Ginnochio

This year Diamond Chef will feature Arkansas Grown, a place to meet local farmers and get recipe inspiration while sampling a variety of fresh, locally harvested foods. Sponsored by the AR Soybean Promotion Board and St. Joseph Farm.

The popular live and silent auctions will feature culinary and hospitality items that are guaranteed to delight any food lovers. One of the main live auction items this year will be a vacation package to a private home in the countryside in Nicaragua, with a friendly staff to cater to your every need.

Diamond Chef Arkansas 2019 Chairman is Robert Klein, co-founder of The Property Group, the most innovative residential real estate brokerage firm in Little Rock. He began selling real estate in 2007 and quickly established himself as one of the top-selling brokers in Central Arkansas.

Klein also serves as a member of the UA – Pulaski Tech Foundation board of directors. “We are very excited to have Robert serve as our event chair,” said Shannon Boshears, UA – Pulaski Tech Foundation Executive Director, “Robert’s leadership skills and charismatic personality are sure to make the 12th year of Diamond Chef nothing less than spectacular!”

Klein and The Property Group support a number of charitable and civic organizations through PG Promise, the firm’s philanthropy arm. Past and present beneficiaries include the following: Arkansas Foodbank, Single Parent Scholarship Fund, and Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation.

This year’s event is being presented by Performance Foodservice, Arkansas Beef Council, Ben E. Keith Foods, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rachel and Dan Oberste Family, Mangan Holcomb Partner/Team SI, Mark Fonville Photographic, Mitchell Williams Law Firm, Hiland Dairy, AY Magazine, KATV, KSSN, 105.1 The Wolf, Hot 94.9, The Edge 100.3, 44 Farms, Arkitchen, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, Baptist Health Foundation, Bylites, First Arkansas Bank and Trust, First National Title, First Security Bank, Gateway Mortgage Group, Hank’s Event Rentals, Legacy Termite & Pest Control, Magna IV, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Rock Town Distillery, The Property Group, and Tipton Hurst.

Last year’s winner, Chef Mary Beth Ringgold, has retired to the Diamond Chef Hall of Fame after back to back victories in 2017 and 2018. Though she is not competing this year, her cuisine can be found at Capers, Copper Grill and Cajun’s Wharf.

Tickets are $150/person and $75 for faculty/staff/students. Proceeds benefit UA-PTC students and programs. For tickets or more information, visit www.uaptc.edu/diamondchef or call Adora Curry at (501) 812-2771 or email [email protected].