Page 3 - Boca Club News - December '24

Boca Club News, Page 3

7th Annual “Chef Showdown” from page 1 fascinating and intense competition with cameras simulcasting
on screens for all to see every move made by the Chefs and
By tradition the winner of each competition serves as their teams as they worked intensely but professionally to
the official Host for the following year’s competition. The prepare their Main Dishes in the allotted time of 30 minutes.
winner in 2023 was Joseph Leonardi, Executive Chef and
Assistant General Manager of St. Andrews Country Club,
which called for St. Andrews to be the setting for this year
and Chef Leonardi as the official Host with the assistance of
Stephanie Caddy, Banquets Director of St. Andrews.
As Aubrey Fleming, Special Events Coordinator for
Trustbridge, noted, “For this year’s success we owe special
thanks to our outstanding Host Committee, including Host
Chair Bob Friedman and Host Committee Andrea Albertini, Chef Daniel Montano
Andrea Cannon, Shari Cohen, Esq., Joanna Lardin, Judith
Levine, Jeff Persily, Mickey Rosenzweig, Heidi Shapiro,
Ilene Stein and Sue Wandersman.”

While each of the Chefs had planned in advance
the Main Dish from which the event’s judges would
determine the winner, it was not until that evening when
they would all be informed of the “surprise ingredient”
that would somehow have to be incorporated into all of
the Main Dishes that would be available for the guests
to enjoy.
That ingredient turned out to be Butternut Squash.
Here is how each Chef creatively modified his recipe.
From Chef Michael Bass: Butter-Poached Atlantic Chef Glenn Matusik
Halibut, Fennel and Butternut Squash Soubise, Osetra
Silent Auction Caviar Beurre Blanc.
From Chef Daniel Montano: Pozole Verde Seco.
As an Open Bar provided a wide range of drinks, Smoked Pork Belly, Hominy Hash, Salsa Verde,
guests were invited to participate in a silent auction and Butternut Squash Puree (garnished with Pumpkin
to indulge to their heart’s content from a tempting array Seeds and Tajin), Cabbage Slaw, Purple Ninja Radish.
of four imaginative Appetizers (“small plates”) created by From Chef Glenn Matusik: Charred Furikaki Dusted
the competing Chefs and arranged on tables, one for each Wagyu Beef and Butternut Crabmeat Stuffed Danish
Chef, set up around the room. Langostino with Miso Bearnaise, Citrus Gel, Okinawa
Sweet Potato Puree, Butternut Squash Gratin, Pickled
Butternut Squash. Pairing with Butternut Sherbet
Intermezzo.
From Chef Jacob Hammell: Sous Vide Dry Aged Chef Jacob Hammell
Ribeye with Lobster Mousseline, Carrot Puree,
Asparagus Tips, Butternut Squash Beurre Blanc, Café From the beaming faces, heaping plates and fast-moving
de Paris Butter. knives and forks at the many tables it was clear that all of
Chef Bass Chef Montano Chef Matusik Chef Hammell the four Chefs were winners as far as the dining guests were
concerned, but it was now the responsibility of the event’s
Here was the first course for the evening’s feast: following four appointed Judges to determine the winner of
From Chef Michael Bass: Crispy Rice Cake with Tuna this year’s Chef Showdown:
Tartare and Yuzu Essence. • Chef Amanda Currie, star of Fox-TV’s Hell’s Kitchen:
From Chef Daniel Montano: Beef Tataki Cone. Yuzu Head Chefs Only.
Ponzu Injector, Prime Beef Tenderloin, Truffle Pearls, • Virginia Philip, Master Sommelier, Philip Wine Spirits
Pickled Wasabi. & Academy.
From Chef Glenn Matusik: Mu Shu Peking Duck. • Burt Rapaport, Rapaport’s Restaurant Group.
From Chef Jacob Hammell: House-made Beetroot Cured • Terry Duffy, Publisher of Palm Beach Illustrated.
Salmon Crostini, Cara Cara Orange, Whipped Boursin,
Boca Grove Honey (Garnish).
On the signal of a bell, all guests were guided to a ballroom
where they were seated at tables to enjoy the evening’s main
meal. The event’s emcee, Neil Saffer, walked them through the Chef Michael Bass

General Dentistry

Cosmetic & Laser Chef Glenn Matusik of Delaire Country Club winner and his
team celebrate the announcement.

And the winning Chef…Glenn Matusik of Delaire
Country Club. So next year’s Chef Showdown will be
held at Delaire Country Club in Delray Beach with Chef
Matusik as the official Host, and hundreds of the area’s
culinary cognoscente will be looking forward to it. Thanks
to St. Andrews General Manager Marc Ray, his superb team
and the Trustbridge event experts, this year’s event will be a
tough act to follow.
Sponsors who made the 2024 Chef Showdown Country
Club Competition possible were Billi and Bernie Marcus,
Acrisure, Findlay Galleries, JP Morgan Private Bank, PNC
Dr. Rosenbusch has been Bank, James and Marta Batmasian, Captrust, Horizon Care
practicing dentistry for 34 years Services, Janney, Arlene and Martin Klepper, Toshiba and
Warner Pacific, exclusive magazine sponsor, Palm Beach
and has extensive experience in Illustrated, Stroll, and Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits.
many aspects of dentistry. His

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