From the innovative minds of McCain® Foodservice Solutions comes an epic culinary throwdown.
Four operator chefs will battle to create mouthwatering menu concepts featuring McCain Mini MashersTM. Fierce battles will be waged. New legends will be forged. Delectable masterpieces will be created to be judged by a panel of experts.
Watch and see who will cook and win against an industry titan at the McCain® National Restaurant Association Show booth for the ultimate prize – PURE EPIC CULINARY GLORY!
EPIC Throwdown CHALLENGES
THE QUEST FOR THE BEST
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From the man behind the epic meals at Frontier, we’re proud to have "Chef Jup" here on the culinary battlefield. Born and raised in New Orleans, executive chef Brian Jupiter has always believed that Southern comfort food is a true art form. His inspiration comes from closely held family secrets and recipes that he learned from cooking alongside his grandmother.
Chef Spike Mendelsohn is a true renaissance man and is ready for the EPIC Throwdown. Chef Spike is the chairman of the DC Food Policy Council and co-founder and culinary director of PLNT Burger. He trained under some of the most prestigious chefs and restaurateurs before diving into the world of fast casual and founding several successful restaurant concepts. Chef Spike uses his expertise to consult with and develop brands across various industries.
Chef Jen Carroll superpower is making memorable culinary moments in kitchens & on screens. She’s a highly accomplished figure in the culinary industry, with a diverse range of experiences & achievements. You may recognize her from Bravo's Top Chef. She showcases her exceptional cooking skills & creativity as a finalist & two-time all-star on the show. In addition to her television work, Chef Carroll helms a successful culinary experience company, Carroll Couture Cuisine, which offers many services including intimate dinners, cooking classes, demos, team building, & brand partnerships. Along with CCC, she is a co-founder of the Sisterly Love Collective, a non-profit organization that aims to support, mentor & empower women in the culinary industry.
Food. Basketball. Sneakers. Those are the three main things chef Victor Jacinto is passionate about, which makes sense since he’s the head chef at Courtside Food & Drinks in Vancouver, British Columbia. Courtside is where basketball and food fans can eat elevated stadium food with freshly made sauces and house-made pickles. Now that’s a slam dunk! Chef Victor started his culinary training at the Vancouver Community College and then spent his time cooking at the top restaurants in Vancouver. We can’t wait to see what he creates in our culinary competition.
As senior editor of Restaurant Business and FoodService Director, Patricia plans and executes the menu sections and covers food and beverage trends, menu R&D, profiles of chefs and restaurateurs, and Technomic research.
As a senior corporate chef at McCain Foods, chef Ronald Opyd oversees the creation of menu concepts, innovating on products and more. He brings decades of culinary experience to the judging table.
As vice president of marketing for McCain Foods North America, Tracy leads a marketing team across disciplines, including brand marketing, innovation, commercial planning, insights and integrated marketing communications for the McCain potato portfolio.
Introducing award-winning McCain Mini MashersTM. They’re a new way to do potatoes. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside and crazy good. Perfect for customizing with your signature sauces and seasonings.
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