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Team Harris named Miami Chef champions

03/08/2012

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Miami Chef champions Team Harris

Using the secret ingredients of raw sweet potato and coconut milk, members from Team Harris won first place in the Miami Chef competition held Wednesday, March 7. Teams from Miami's dining halls vied for the coveted championship title.

Sponsored by the department of housing, dining, recreation and business services, the bi-annual competition pits teams against each other vying for the top spot by preparing dishes using a secret ingredient.

“We have changed it up a bit (this year) with the teams required to plan and prepare an international entrée as part of the competition,” said Marijo Nootz, senior director of Shriver Center.

Team Harris, representing the country of Kenya, included Miami cooks from La Mia Cucina and Harris Dining Hall.

The team's signature dish from Kenya was Deconstructed Beef Stew with iro, spinach and lemon foam, ugali and a miniature katchubari.

Other dishes presented were:

Pork on Fire with coconut rice, a hay stack, pineapple African hot sauce, and cilantro oil served with garlic chipatti;
Open Faced Samosa with strawberry balsamic sauce
Toasted Coconut and Caramel Bar Caramel & Chocolate Sauce;
Maandazi with Minted Yogurt; and
Kenyan Seafood Stew.

Judges commented on the excellent flavors and visuals of the dishes.

Members of Team Harris: lead cook Amber Osborne, James Broome, Marty Fasick, Sharene Hamblin, Jenny Hickman, Sarah Huddelson, Dawn Pullum, Danial Whalen, and team adviser Adam Hamilton, Miami chef.

Second place went to Team Shriver with cooks from Haines Food Court and the Shriver production kitchen. They represented the country of South Korea. Team members: lead cook Bill Lawrence, Angel Boggs, Nicki Egerton, Angela Gentry, Erin Heil, Eshwar Poudel, Hannah Robertson, and team adviser W. Allen Tucker, Miami chef.

Third place went to the Towering Mount Everest Team, consisting of cooks from Bell Tower Place and representing the country of Nepal. Team members: lead cook Tracy Agee, Ben Beitzel, Marsha Doran, Teresa Harris, Dave Kasnic, Midge Kochanowksi, Kristen Wright, and team adviser John Pierce, Miami chef.