PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE’S FIFTH ANNUAL
Philly Cooks!™
WHIPS UP A WIN FOR RESTAURANTS AND MANNA
TEIKOKU, TWENTY21, ANGELINA, MOSHULU AND
SANSOM STREET OYSTER HOUSE WIN BEST OF 2004!
PHILADELPHIA, PA – January 21,2005 – Despite snow, frigid
temperatures, icy roads, and traffic nightmares, Philadelphia Magazine’s
Fifth Anniversary Philly Cooks!™ stirred up a major win on Wednesday
night, as the region's premier culinary competition resulted in a
smash hit for participants, celebrity judges and the public, presenting
a spectacular display of culinary artistry and a gastronomic feast
while raising much-needed funds for MANNA.
With a move this year to the Philadelphia Naval Yard Cruise Terminal,
the event drew a standout attendance of over 700 who braved the elements,
helping to raise over $34,000 for MANNA (the region's volunteer-driven
organization that provides delivery of meals and groceries to persons
living with HIV/AIDS), through ticket sales, a raffle and a silent
auction. This year’s Mercedes-Benz Silent Auction, featuring
a display of Mercedes-Benz model cars, raised a total of $1550. The
highest bid was $300 for the Grey 500SL model.
Attracting 50 of the region’s top chefs in a competition for
both artistry and taste, this year’s culinary talent was critiqued
by a stellar group of celebrity judges, guided by Chef Philip Pinkney
of the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, using national culinary
judging criteria and including Chefs Joseph Poon, Brian Sikora of
Django, Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management, Elaine Khosrova
of Santé Magazine, the Food Network’s Bill Boggs, Saveur
Magazine’s Roger Morris, Cynthia Teixeira of Williams-Sonoma,
NBC10’s Terry Ruggles, and many more.
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
DISH OF THE YEAR 2005: The Moshulu Penn’s Landing
Moshulu Surf and Turf with Zinfandel Braised Short Ribs, Diver Scallops,
Parsnip Cake, Leek Confit
Chef: Ralph Fernandez
BEST APPETIZER Teikoku Japanese & Thai Cuisine Newtown Square,
PA
Salmon Tartar, with apricot miso Brulee, blueberry balsamic reduction,
served with Yuzu crème fresh
Chef: Alexander McCoy
BEST ENTRÉE Twenty21 Center City
Roasted Rack of Lamb with Dried Cherry Espresso Burgundy Sauce, Fig
and Roasted Butternut Squash Galette
Chef: Rainer Floeter
BEST DESSERT Angelina Old City
Italian Cookie Plate: Assorted cookies served with espresso ice cream
and chilled espresso for dipping
Chef: Adriana Paveglio
BEST PRESENTATION DISPLAY: Sansom Street Oyster House for Gilligan’s
Island Display
The winning chef for Dish of the Year was awarded a $5000 gift certificate
for a watch from Robbins Diamonds.
(more)
2-2-2-2 Philadelphia Magazine's Fifth Annual Philly Cooks! Stirs Up
Success
For the first time, this year’s event also included THE FIRST
ANNUAL AMATEUR CHEF COMPETITION. Out of 50 entries comprised of an
original recipe and a 250 word essay, all tested and judged by Chef
Pinkney and his team at The Restaurant School, the winner was Jack
Eck, for his Walnut Crusted Lamb Chops with Vegetable Gateaux and
Caviar Perigueux Sauce. In addition to being able to showcase his
recipe with a live demonstration at the event, Mr. Eck won a series
of culinary lessons at the Restaurant School. A resident of Northeast
Philadelphia, Eck worked as a Corporate Executive in the computer
industry for thirty years, before pursuing his passion for food. He
is currently a waiter at Dock's Oyster House, in Atlantic City, NJ.
Representing a gastronomic map that spans the region from city to
suburbs, and a wide range of culinary diversity, this year's participants
included both new entrants and loyal competitors from years past,
such as Old City’s Bookbinder’s, Fork and City Tavern;
Center City’s Sansom Street Oyster House, McCormick & Schmick
and Valanni; Fairmount’s London Grill; South Philly’s
Mamma Maria; Savona in Gulph Mills; King of Prussia’s Zodiac
at Neiman Marcus; New Hope’s 90 Main; Wayne’s Margaret
Kuo’s; Cherry Hill’s Misto; Atlantic City’s Brulee,
and many more.
The Fifth Annual Philadelphia Magazine's PHILLY COOKS!™ was
made possible by sponsors Mercedes Benz, The Fretz Kitchen and Gallo
Wines.
Now backed by over 1,000 volunteers annually, MANNA brings over 60,000
nutritious, freshly-prepared meals each month into the homes of individuals
and families living with HIV/AIDS, and provides one-on-one, HIV-specialized
nutritional counseling in dozens of clinics throughout the Delaware
Valley at no charge. To learn more about MANNA, or to volunteer, call
215-49-MANNA or visit www.mannapa.org.
One of the most distinguished metropolitan monthly publications in
the country, Philadelphia Magazine was founded in 1908 as a quarterly
illustrated magazine published by the Trades League of Philadelphia,
and has been in continuous publication for 95 years. Bought in 1946
by S. Arthur Lipson, the magazine has remained in continual operation
by the Lipson family. Current Chairman D. Herbert Lipson took the
helm as Publisher in 1961, and in 1986, the torch was passed to S.
Arthur Lipson’s grandson, David H. Lipson, Jr. In 2003, Marian
Conicella was named Publisher while David Lipson remains as President.
Philadelphia Magazine is a division of Metrocorp.
For more information about PHILLY COOKS!™ or Philadelphia Magazine,
please call Nina Zucker Associates at 610.667.0706.