Chefs battle at “Chili Cookoff”
During the height of winter while most of the country was plunged in cold temperatures, chefs at six hospitals across Endeavor Health turned up the heat with a spicy competition to compete for the best bowl of chili.
“Our chefs were really proud to participate in this exciting competition,” said Brian Steward, System Executive Chef Endeavor Health, Aramark Healthcare+. “It was a flavorful celebration of culinary creativity featuring dishes that were crafted with both personal, cultural, or regional preferences in mind to showcase the different variations of everyone’s favorite winter comfort food.”
Throughout the cookoff, chefs showcased their creative, signature chili dishes for guests to enjoy and ultimately, choose their favorite. Every week from January 27 to March 3 a new dish was featured at each location, starting at Swedish Hospital.
A total of 373 people participated in the voting during the six-week contest by scanning QR codes. Top honors went to Skokie Hospital’s chefs Randy Lowe and Paulo Ramirez.
The ranking of chefs and their dishes (recipes are linked) are as follows:
- Skokie Hospital: Chefs Randy Lowe and Paulo Ramirez, P.R. Chili Crusher
- Swedish Hospital: Chef Joaquin Arroyo, Papa Joaquin’s Beef Chili with Ancho and Guajillo Peppers
- Glenbrook Hospital: Chef Raymundo Torres, Chef Ray’s Killer Chili
- Northwest Community Hospital: Chef Alfredo De Arcos Garcia, Chili Steak and Chorizo
- Evanston Hospital: Chef Tiffany Bryant-Bell, Tiffany’s Grilled White Chicken Chili
- Highland Park: Chef Jorge Alcocer, Chili Verde with Flank Steak
This was the third culinary competition among the hospitals with a fourth competition, the Spring Sandwich Showdown, preparing to get underway in the coming weeks. “Competitions like these are a welcoming sight, bringing a warmth of community spirit and friendly competition between different culinary teams and hospital leadership” said Chef Steward.
