CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Kirkwood College Culinary Department can now boast as
being the area’s Iron Chef. Local chefs from Zins, Daniel Arthur’s,
Vino’s, and Kirkwood competed for the coveted title of “Iron Chef” as
Junior League of Cedar Rapids (JLCR) held its second annual competition
on Wednesday, March 12 at the Kirkwood College Culinary Department. For
two years running this event has taken place before a sold-out crowd!

As the competition began, the chefs were told of a surprise ingredient,
which was wjote chocolate. The chefs then faced off in a frenetic,
culinary battle against each other and the clock. The judges, Ian
Cummings, Anne Kapler, Tony Aguiar, Mark Dunn, and Ron Hall, presented
the “Iron Chef” award to Kirkwood. The Iron Chef Secret Ingredient
Champion was Vino’s. Beckett’s Public House won the People’s Choice
Award. Other People’s Choice contestants included chefs from Marriott
and CR Chophouse.

In addition to watching Chefs transform the surprise ingredient into an
award winning delicacy, guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a beer tasting by
Dale Lee Distributing, a wine tasting by First Avenue Wine House and The
Secret Cellar, and live music by guitarists Adam Beck and Mark Moss.
All attendees received a free cookbook and great door prizes were
awarded throughout the night.

JLCR is proud to have partnered with the following event sponsors: Mix
96.5; House of Carpets; Kristen Trovas at Merrill Lynch; Office Express;
Guaranty Bank; Good Year; Iowa Pork Producers; Innovative Aesthetics at
Linn County OBGYN; Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust; NE Family Dentistry;
Carousel Nissan; Hawkeye Foods; Mike Gary at Principal; Salon Neil
Bouderaux; AB Transport; First Avenue Wine House; Secret Cellar; Cake
Buzz; Dale Lee Distributing; Pratt Audio and Video; and Coca-Cola
Bottling.

Funds raised at the second annual Iron Chef will help fund JLCR projects
such as the upcoming Habitat for Humanity women-led build, and help JLCR
fulfill its mission. For more information, please contact the Junior
League of Cedar Rapids at (319) 364-7892 or visit the website at
www.juniorleaguecr.org.

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