Taste of Kansas City 2014 set for this Thursday

Twenty local food and beverage vendors, including Accurso’s Italian Restaurant, Blue Bird Bistro, Jerusalem Cafe, Colors Macarons, the Dubliner, and Westside Local will be sharing samples of their products this Thursday, May 22, beginning at 6:30 p.m. when The Pitch presents “Taste of Kansas City”  in the KC Live Block of the Power & Light District. The event raises funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City.

Six local chefs will compete for the 2014 Golden Fork trophy, including last year’s winner, Jason Wiggins of the InterContinental Hotel Kansas City. All six chefs will be challenged to create a creative meal prepared with the ingredients of a “mystery box” of ingredients unknown to the competing chefs until shortly before they begin cooking.

This year’s competing chefs will be, in addition to Jason Wiggins, Charles d’Ablaing from Chaz on the Plaza, Cruz Vasquez from Accurso’s Italian Restaurant, Shawn Brady from the Ambassador Hotel, Bobby Stearns from Ophelia’s Restaurant, and Justin Voldan from the Hotel Phillips.

Last year, I served as one of the guest judges for the competition (which was a very difficult
assignment – all of the competing dishes were very good) and will judge again this year with restaurant consultant, waiter and author David Hayden of tipssquared.com and my fellow KCUR 89.3 food panelist, Emily Farris, of feedmekccreative.com.

The sponsors of this year’s event include 816 Hotel, Sir Speedy, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City. Tickets to “Taste of Kansas City” cost $55 for VIP guests and $45 for general admission. Tickets may be purchased at the gate; this event is limited to patrons over age 21.