3 days ago
Local eateries face off in Chef Show Down at Kilmer Mansion
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – There's a special opportunity to check out the incredible transformation of the Kilmer Mansion while sampling the culinary creations of some creative cooks.
The Junior League of Binghamton is hosting a Chef Show Down as part of its Designer Show House at the historic mansion Thursday evening.
The Junior League has completely refurbished the Kilmer with the help of local designers and contractors.
Thursday evening, chefs from local eateries will face off in a competition to see who can create the best dish.
The hook is that they must use an ingredient that might typically be found in a food pantry.
That's because some proceeds from the Show House and affiliated events will go to create a Food Recovery and Prepared Meal Truck.
The truck will collect leftover food from local restaurants and caterers for a chef to repurpose into hot meals that are then driven to food deserts in Broome and Tioga Counties for distribution to people in need.
Junior League President Alisha Swietzer says our area has a good network of food pantries, but not everyone can easily get to them.
'Folks in our area have trouble accessing those. Either mobility challenges or they lack the means of a vehicle to get to them. So, we thought, 'Okay, we need to do something here, we need to combine the efforts.' So, we're going to take the food directly to them,' said Swietzer.
Swietzer says the Junior League has set a goal of raising $360,000 to purchase the truck and pay for two years of operation. Once completed, it will turn the truck over to CHOW to operate.
Thursday's Chef Show Down begins at 6 p.m. and features Little Venice, Donoli's, Kitchen Counter, Confection Connection, and Quebec Diner 87.
There will be two prizes: a people's choice determined by $1 votes, and a judge's choice.
I am honored to be a member of the judging panel.
Tickets are $49 and can be purchased at or at the door.
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