Over the past weekend the 2022 Midwest Chapitre was held in Des Moines, Iowa and along with that the Midwest Regional Young Chef Competition was held with the winner moving on to the 2022 National Culinary Young Chef Competition in Atlanta, June 2-4, 2022.  The great news is that the Cincinnati Bailliage competitor, Phil Gentry, Head Chef at Fausto at the CAC, won decisively over three other Midwest competitors!  Cincinnati has sent a competitor to the Midwest regional competition for more that 15 years and this is our first, 1st place win.  Congratulation to Phil for a fantastic job!

Along with our thanks to Phil for beating the competition we need to thank the following members who helped to make this possible: Jon Powell for recommending that Phil compete locally for the chance to move on to the regionals; Renee Schuler who hosted and helped judge our local Young Chef Competition at eat well in Newport; Alan Neace who not only directed the local competition, but also provided the necessary training for Phil to enable him to compete at the regional level; and finally Clint Haynes for overseeing and quarterbacking this entire process as head of our Young Chef Competition initiative. 

Also, a big thanks to Tony and Austin Ferrari at Fausto for allowing Phil to compete and helping to cheer him on.

Phil will now be training with Alan at eat well for the Nationals in Atlanta in June and we know he’ll do well.  But those of you who were lucky enough to to get a reservation for next Monday’s Dine Around at Fausto will get a chance to sample his culinary skills in just 7 days.  If you are not reserved for that event I invite you to have lunch at Fausto Monday through Friday, 10:30 – 2:30 PM.

Phil, thanks again for the great job in Des Moines and the best of luck at the Nationals in Atlanta!

Regards,

George Elliott

Bailli