The location for Chef’s Night Out may have been different than in year’s past, but it was just as delicious. After not taking place for the last two years, Chef’s Night Out was held June 6 at the Lane Events Center. That change made it feel slightly less crowded than other events have been. This has been a special event in the local community for 30 years now. It is a primary fundraiser for FOOD For Lane County, and thanks to the sponsors, especially the title sponsor, King Estate Winery, and the West Family, Best Bite, and People’s Choice Sponsor Jerry’s Home Improvement, 100% of the ticket price goes to help FOOD for Lane County fulfill its mission of increasing food security in our community. This event typically raises enough money to provide 400,000 meals.
If you were there and didn’t know the history, you might be wondering why the team fro Fisherman’s Market was serving a whole roasted pig. this goes back to the founding of Chef’s Night Out by Mike West, who along with his brothers, owned several restaurants in town over the years. He was co-owner of Cafe Zenon, and later started West Bros. Barbecue. Since the time that Mike West helped spearhead the first event in 1991, his signature dish was a whole smoked hog. That tradition continued this year, to honor the anniversaries of his passing in 2011 and 30 years of Chef’s Night Out which couldn’t have taken place in the past two years due to the pandemic. Fisherman’s Market also served creamy shrimp mac and cheese!
About 50 food and beverage providers set up booths, offering tasty bites of some of the signature offerings. At the end of the night, judges chose their favorite bite or beverage and the people chose theirs. We know so far that Shalosh Levantine Cuisine (@shaloshlevantinecuisine) took two awards for ‘Presentation & Hospitality Best Bite’ & ‘Overall Best Bite.’
Here are the 2022 winners:
Best Presentation & Hospitality
Winner: Shalosh Levantine Cuisine
Honorable Mention: Sweet Life Patisserie
Best Vegetarian Bite
Winner: King Estate Winery & Restaurant
Honorable Mention: Cornbread Cafe
Best Sweet Bite
Winner: Sweet Life Patisserie
Honorable Mention – TIE: Palace Coffee & Bakery
King Estate Winery & Restaurant
Best Savory Bite
Winners: Falling Sky Brewing
Honorable Mention: Southpine Bakery & Cafe
Mike West Overall Best Bite
Winner: Shalosh Levantine Cuisine
Honorable Mention: King Estate Winery
Peoples’ Choice Award
Winner: Mac’s Nightclub & Catering
Honorable Mention – TIE: Network Charter School & King Estate Winery
