The Union Board Major Attractions Committee will host The Titanium Chef, a cook-off between local restaurants and students, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Charleston Market on the mezzanine level of the Indiana Memorial Union. The event is free to all IU students. \n"We did it a couple of years ago and it proved itself to be very successful," said senior Drew Goldberg, head coordinator of the event. \nThe idea is a spin-off from The Learning Channel's show "The Iron Chef."\n"It's an opportunity to give students a taste of the show," said freshman Kate Claussen, Union Board Major Attractions committee member.\n In order to obtain their chefs, the board sent out proposals to all of the surrounding Bloomington restaurants on a first-come, first-serve basis. The slots filled up very quickly.\nThe three teams, represented by their head chefs, will include Malibu Grill, IMU Catering and City Grille. Not only will these three restaurants be represented, but the committee will select three random students from the audience to participate as well.\n"When we got wind of the cook-off we jumped on the idea," said Greg Moorman, manager of the City Grille. "It should be a fun way to increase exposure and get word of our establishment out to the public."\nEach team will receive the same previously-selected ingredients to create an obscure and tasteful meal. In a span of one hour, the chefs will then prepare an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert on their own. \nJason Shoulders, head chef at Malibu Grill, said this is the first time they will participate in a cook-off event.\n"We are going into it blind, looking for a good time and hoping to make some new friends along the way," Shoulders said.\nAfter the cook-off, two members of the Major Attractions Committee, along with two students selected from the audience at random will judge the meals. They will be looking for creativity, use of ingredients, ability to finish by the deadline, and most importantly, taste.\nNot only will students be able to sample the food that is prepared, but there will also be appetizers and refreshments for those who want to stick around. \nAssistants and judges will receive prizes including gifts certificates to the participating restaurants.
Staff reporter Ryota Kashiwa contributed to this report.
