Just Food's CSA Smackdown 2014

On Monday, October 20th aspiring New York City chefs will go head-to-head and experience the chance of a lifetime – having their food tasted and critiqued by Top Chef Tom Colicchio. The challenge? Making their dishes using only ingredients from their CSA share. Dubbed the Great CSA Smackdown, competing chefs represent winners from local CSA cooking competitions all across NYC. With only moments to plan and 30 minutes to cook, competitors will need to rely on their speed, skill and creativity to make the cut. In addition to Colicchio, Food 52’s CEO Amanda Hesser and Haven’s Kitchen Executive Chef David Mawhinney will serve as judges.

What’s bringing this star power together? A great cause. The CSA Smackdown benefits Just Food, an organization whose mission is to support community-led efforts to increase access to locally grown food, especially in underserved New York City neighborhoods. Just Food provides training and education to community members to help them launch projects like farmers' markets and CSAs, provide education in basic culinary and urban agriculture skills for their neighbors, and advocate to make their corner of New York City a healthier place to live and eat.

Since 1995, Just Food has trained over 115 community groups to start and run CSA projects in NYC. Each week, over 36,000 CSA members experience the joys and challenges of preparing and eating all of their fresh produce.

WHAT: Top Chef Tom Colicchio judges local chefs @ Just Food’s Great CSA Smackdown

WHEN: Monday, October 20. Media availability at 6:00pm, competition at 7:30pm

WHERE: Haven’s Kitchen, 109 W 17th Street

WHO: Just Food, Top Chef Tom Colicchio, Amanda Hesser, Haven’s Kitchen Executive Chef David Mawhinney and NYC CSA chefs