Winner Announced In S.pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Contest

The winner has been named in the first annual S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef competition at Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas. Joncarl Lachman from The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City took the grand prize as the chef displaying the most potential star power. This special weekend event involved a panel of celebrity chefs, food journalists and media experts who shared their knowledge with the contestants on what makes the difference between a great cook and a famous chef. It culminated in a thrilling cook-off at Charlie Palmers Aureole restaurant in Mandalay Bay, during which each contestant was given an identical market basket and just 90 minutes to prepare an entrie using these ingredients.

Joncarl Lachman who graduated from ICE in May 2002, prepared an impressive creation of Seared Salmon on a Summer Risotto Cake with Fennel Four Ways, Sautied Spinach, garnished with Fresh Potato Chips. After training at ICE, Joncarl took an externship and then full-time position at Inside Restaurant, a bistro in New York Citys Greenwich Village opened by highly regarded chef Ann Rosensweig. His upcoming three-year plan is to move to Ohio and open his own restaurant.

As the contest winner, Joncarl receives a trip to the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (ICIF) in Italy, $1000 cash, a 10 piece set of Cuisinart Multiclad Cookware, a professional bar blender from Waring, and two round-trip first-class tickets from National Airlines. First runner-up was Andre Seibald of Johnson & Wales University, and second runner-up prize went to Nathan Redcloud Bates of Western Culinary Institute.

Top culinary schools from around the country were invited by S.Pellegrino sparkling natural mineral water to submit their best graduate of the year to participate. A list of all contestants is provided below.

The contest judges were:

Charlie Palmer (Chef/Owner, Aureole at Mandalay Bay)
Kerry Simon (Executive Chef, Simons at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas)
Nick Stellino (Chef and Host of Nick Stellinos Family Kitchen on PBS)
Patricia Dailey (Editor-in-Chief, Restaurants & Institutions)
Bill Rice (Food Columnist, Chicago Tribune)
Steve Dolinsky (Host: CLTVs Good Eating)
Elizabeth Blau (Restaurant consultant)


The contestants were:

David Marshall (California Culinary Academy)
Anukul N. Hampton (California School of Culinary Arts)
Janet Ryan (Culinary Institute of America)
Joncarl Lachman (The Institute of Culinary Education)
Andre Siebald (Johnson & Wales University)
Anthony Ferri (New York Restaurant School)
Nathan Redcloud Bates (Western Culinary Institute)
Nikki Schiebel (New England Culinary Institute)


* * * *

Founded in 1975, The Institute of Culinary Education (formerly Peter Kumps New York Cooking School) has grown to be one of the nations premier centers for culinary learning. The Institute runs over 6,500 classes annually within its three separate divisions: career training, recreational, and corporate and special cooking events. The career training division offers accredited, 8 to 11 month diploma programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry and Baking, and Culinary Management. The recreational division offers over 1,200 hands-on cooking, baking and wine courses a year  the largest program of its kind. The special events department hosts cooking events for some of the most prestigious companies in the nation. The Institutes new 26,000 square foot facility at 50 West 23 Street is open day and night, 52 weeks a year.