Santa Barbara cooks fired up for World Food Championships

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Posted Nov 6, 2014

Santa Barbara cooks fired up for World Food Championships

L.J. Washington caught the competitive-cooking bug bad, thanks in large part to this newspaper, having won The Santa Barbara Independent’s 2012 Sandwich Showdown by beating two professional chefs. Since then, this Carpinteria resident, who is originally from New Orleans, won a KEYT BackyardBBQ Contest, a Carpinteria Chili Cookoff, and took part in the Today show Father’s Day Burger Battle, where she got to schmooze with Giada De Laurentiis. (“There was a lot of giggling and girl talk; it was really wonderful,” Washington recalled. “I’ll treasure that one.”)

Now she’s off to Las Vegas for the second time, hoping to be crowned as the best sandwich-maker at the World Food Championships (WFC), which runs November 12-18. She thought her sous chef would be George Levinthal, another Indy food contest victor (he’s won our amateur BBQ division twice) who’s become Washington’s friend. But then Levinthal made the cut for the WFC’s hamburger division (he’s also won Los Angeles Times’ Battle of the Burgers twice), so now they’ll be helping each other out, as much as the crazy schedule of three rounds per category, nine categories, and 550 competitors permits.

The two are running taste tests to perfect their entries, and that hurts, for as Washington said, “Every time I create things, I gain five to 10 pounds.”

“I really don’t eat that much red meat normally,” admitted Levinthal with a grimace, “so I can really feel it.” But they’re both quite jazzed to be part of such a showdown amid the taping of a television show that will be aired next spring.

“[My wife] Carol made me a chef’s coat with ‘Chez George’ on it, so I can wear it and look important, too,” joked Levinthal, who’ll be competing against both pros and amateurs like himself. “It’s fun,” he said. “It gets the creative juices flowing.” Added Washington, “And you get a little recognition, which makes you feel good.” Who knows how good she might feel if she does better than her impressive 7th place finish last year?

http://www.independent.com/news/2014/nov/06/fired-world-food-championship/

The adrenaline rush of cooking before a timer buzzes, the theater of performing in front of an audience and a genuine love for the craft are key ingredients to any cooking contest.

Those are just a few of the things George Levinthal is looking forward to when the Goleta resident competes against 500 fellow amateur and professional chefs at the World Food Championships in Las Vegas later this month.

He’s never been, but Carpinteria resident and amateur chef L.J. Washington has. She will return to the global competition for the second year in a row, hoping to finally take home the top $100,000 prize.

The two locals became unlikely friends four years ago when their love of cooking spilled into competitive pursuits and grilling contests, a stark contrast from their day jobs.

Levinthal, 65, is a senior project manager with UC Santa Barbara design and construction services who slowly gained confidence in his burger-grilling abilities.

Washington, 43, is a New Orleans native and former travel nurse who decided to stay on the Central Coast more than six years ago. After co-workers complimented her Creole-inspired cookies, she started her own side business, L.J.’s Southern Belle Cookies.

Both have wielded spatulas, spoons and knives as long as they can remember, honing recipes and winning contests to land spots in the championship, set for Nov. 12-18.

“Pros and Joes,” Levinthal told Noozhawk. “It’s going to be exciting. It’s fun. It’s a departure from everyday work.”

Levinthal and Washington will compete in one of nine categories — burgers and sandwiches, respectively — for a chance to win $10,000. Tops winners go on.

Last year, Washington earned seventh place in the sandwiches category, competing against up to 50 participants in the taped contest.

She automatically earned her spot in this year’s championship with that finish, and beat out two local professional chefs in a sandwich competition to get to Vegas in the first place. Washington has also appeared on the Today Show Father’s Day Burger Battle in New York City and won the Carpinteria Chili-Cookoff with her hickory smoke-infused pork and beef chili.

Levinthal, past two-time winner of the Los Angeles Times Battle of the Burgers, won a bid with the kicked-up all-American cheeseburger recipe he submitted to Just a Pinch website. He’s also won local barbecue contests and was flown to New York to tape a segment on the Cooking Channel’s Perfect 3 for his cornbread pudding.

Like good sports, the pair plans to serve as each other’s sous-chef assistant, since they cook at different times.

Each will create two dishes, one of their own original recipe and a second based on a contest prompt.

“It’s been quite challenging,” Washington said. “I already know we’re going to make the Top 10.”

They’re glad to have each other’s support, and neither would rule out pursuing cooking as a career if they win.

http://www.noozhawk.com/article/local_amateur_chefs_prep_for_world_food_championships_20141101

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Santa Barbara cooks fired up for World Food Championships

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