Culinary Clash ‘People’s Choice Award’ Winners 2017!

What an incredible day in Los Angeles at this year’s California Restaurant Association Foundation’s Culinary Clash: Battle Los Angeles 2017! Team Wedgewood brings home the win for the People’s Choice Award and raised over $8,000 for culinary students from ProStart – a great program that trains high school students in the culinary arts. This event provides critically needed funding for high school culinary arts enrichment programs such as field trips, job training, and teacher professional development for the upcoming school year. 

This lively cooking competition between restaurant brands was held during the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Guests enjoyed tasty appetizers and beverages while rooting for their favorite restaurant team. Corporate chefs and executives were paired with a ProStart student to prepare an amuse-bouche and an entrée in 30 minutes using only two butane burners. Packed with fun, the cooking competition returns with an added bonus, a cocktail mixology competition. 

“Congratulations Team Wedgewood for taking home the People’s Choice Award! The bar is set high for next year! Thank you for lending your talents to this year’s Culinary + Cocktail Clash.” Erin Mascho, Director of Development, California Restaurant Association Foundation.

Team Wedgewood Culinary Clash: Chef Justin Kerr of Wedgewood Weddings | The Retreat, Regional Manager/Managing Partner Roman Cota, and of course their very talented and enthusiastic student partner. 

Team Wedgewood Cocktail Clash: Feature bartender extraordinaire Matt Martinez, General Manager of Wedgewood Weddings | Sequoia Mansion.

With the help of Wedgies, friends and family, vendors and supporters, Wedgewood Weddings raised a total of $8,550 – a tremendous contribution to supporting high school culinary arts education!

“I am so proud of my team and happy to support this wonderful event! It was an incredible experience and we’re absolutely thrilled to support California Restaurant Association Foundation’s efforts. These young students we support today could be the Wedgewood Chefs of tomorrow.” Bill Zaruka, President of Wedgewood Weddings