Tucson's Iron Chef Albert Hall Defends His Title

With grills fired up, knives sharpened and yearlong boasting rights on the line, Albert Hall, executive chef and owner of Acacia at St. Philip's, will defend his title of Iron Chef Tucson against competitor Michael C. Brown of Metro Restaurants on Jan. 20, 2008.
Last year, Hall rose to culinary glory in the very first Iron Chef Tucson contest, beating out Jonathan Landeen of Jonathan's Cork with three outstanding dishes featuring duck, the secret ingredient. "This year's competition is shaping up to be better than ever," Hall said. "The turnout should number in the thousands. Add the fact that Michael is the underdog-and I know he has something up his sleeve-and anything could happen."
Hall has a long tradition of culinary excellence in Tucson. He's spent more than 30 years in the kitchen, and he brings a global awareness to his restaurant's contemporary American menu while also taking advantage of regional flavors and ingredients in his whimsical dishes.
Besides being a showdown between two of Tucson's most popular kitchen maestros, Iron Chef Tucson is a fund-raising event for Caf� 54, a downtown Tucson bistro that also serves as an employment training program for individuals recovering from mental illness. The program participants at Caf� 54 receive training to become line cooks, prep cooks, servers, cashiers or dishwashers-skills that allow them to find permanent employment once they complete the program. "Acacia is an avid supporter of Caf� 54," Hall said. "The program empowers individuals to achieve their goals and also provides them with a supportive, encouraging environment."
The second annual Iron Chef Tucson competition will be held at Desert Diamond Casino's I-19 and Pima Mine Road location. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com. More information on the event is available at www.mixfm.com.
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