Bahama Breeze Top Chef Competition

By janine Amado | February 29, 2016

What better way to bring a crowd together than to hold a food competition? Bahama Breeze Grille of Cherry Hill, NJ hosted a region-wide chef competition to find the next new feature entree for their menu.

Nine, talented cooks prepared a dish of their choice. Each chef was required to bring one special ingredient from home and was given a surprise ingredient in an envelope from the judge’s table to add to their entre. Chosen by five top judges, each dish could easily serve Bahama Breeze patrons happily but only one winner was awarded a grand prize of $1,000! From savory mango-pureed spaghetti sides to island styled quinoa with almond stuffed peppers, this taste-off gave the judges a run for their pallet.

Cesar Pulido of Bahama Breeze Grille in Newark-Christiana Mall walked away as top chef. His dish, “The Grand Bahama” named after an island off the Bohemian islands, was given a score of over 200 for its creativity, temperature, presentation, and taste.

The Grand Bahama Salmon smothered in a honey chipotle glaze mixed with sriracha aside a veggie salad consisting of carrots, green beans, and spinach on a bed of pineapple caught the judges’ eyes. A small scoop of mashed sweet potatoes complimented the sweet and spicy glaze perfectly to top it off!

 

Billy Williams of Wayne’s location won second place with his Jamaican style snapper fish smothered in coconut milk and Jamaican seasoning.

Video

Bahama Breeze first Top Chef Competition on Vimeo.

Congratulations to the finalist: