Contestants for this round of competition were selected from the kitchens at Congress Austin, La Condesa, and Uchiko. The three-stage, Chopped-style contest will be judged by local chef/restaurateur and Austin’s own Top Chef, Paul Qui; KGSR radio personality Andy Langer; chef Jesse Perez of Arcade Midtown Kitchen in San Antonio; Food & Wine magazine publisher Christina Grdovic; and a comedian in town for the Moontower Comedy Festival.
As always, Philip Speer, culinary director of Uchi and Uchiko, will serve as master of ceremonies for the contest. Preliminary rounds are only open to the media and co-workers of the contestants, but winners of each round will go on to compete in the finale that will be open to the public in June. Citywide 86’d is sponsored by Uchi, Keeper Collection, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, and the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
This article appears in April 18 • 2014.