Chefs Shine at Showcase

Campus Dining participation in a local culinary event results in a gain for AS Food Bank!

Last month, two of our culinary superstars were given an opportunity to represent UCSB Campus Dining, and show off their talents at the 2022 IFEC Annual Conference. Senior Executive Chef for Residential Dining, Brian Smith, and Executive Catering & Concessions Chef, Harley Hall, were invited to prepare an original dish for the conference’s Chef Showcase event in the Cabrillo Pavilion at East Beach. Chefs from Santa Barbara hotels, restaurants and institutions were paired with industry sponsors and asked to prepare an appetizer dish that featured their ingredient or product. Sponsors ranged from the National Mango Board to Kikkoman USA, with Grapes from California, also known as the California Table Grape Commission, sponsoring UCSB Campus Dining. Chefs Brian and Harley created a unique and delicious dish, “Five-Spice Roasted Grapes from California with a Ribbon of Szechuan Peppercorn-Crusted Salmon Gravlax, atop Crispy Sushi Rice, garnished with Kaiware and Pickled Daikon Matchsticks,” that was beautifully presented, and well-received by the conference guests.

According to their website, the International Foodservice Editorial Council “brings editors and PR/marketing communications professionals together to exchange ideas, share resources and confer on editorial content for foodservice-engaged readers. Member editors are the voices of the leading print and digital magazines. PR members represent food boards, manufacturers, restaurants, non-commercials, trade groups, research firms and other organizations that drive foodservice.”  

The IFEC selects a different host city for each annual conference, and with the choice of Santa Barbara in 2022, came a special invitation for UCSB Campus Dining. Our chefs had a chance to shine for a discerning audience, offering a creative dish that held its own against recipes from chefs at other distinguished dining establishments in town, such as Loquita, Mar Monte Hotel, and The Secret Bao. As if the honor to participate wasn’t enough, the proverbial icing on the cake came with an opportunity to give back to our campus community. The participating chef teams were awarded a stipend check from the IFEC, which Campus Dining donated to the AS Food Bank. Toques off to Chefs Brian and Harley, and the supporting Campus Dining team!