YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Four local chefs are locked in their kitchens, preparing ultra-secret menus to crush their competition.
Iron Chef takes place next Monday at Wyndridge Farm. Each cook will create an appetizer, entrée and dessert in hopes of wowing the judges and taking home the title of Iron Chef. Their menus must include ingredients often found at the York County Food Bank.
"So we require the chefs that are competing in the Iron Chef event to use—we pick out some common ingredients that are commonly found at the food bank," Jennifer Brillhart, president and CEO of the York County Food Bank, said. "The chefs help to elevate that and show, demonstrate, how you can use these simple ingredients and make them into what you're seeing today."
Jay Varga, executive chef with The JDK Group Catering and Events, won last year's event. He was tasked with making a chicken-based appetizer and opted for an open-faced empanada with pumpkin mole, Cotija cheese and coriander leaves.
Although Varga is not competing himself this year, The JDK Group still has a chance to bring the title back home.
"I'm feeling very good," Vargas said. "My sous chef this year is competing, and I think he has a strong menu planned, and I'm excited for it. It was a great event, and it brings light to one of the most important things to me, which is hunger."
The competitors in the 2024 Iron Chef will include chef Hunter Roloson from Wyndridge Farm, chef Joshua House from The JDK Group, chef Will Shaw from C & J Catering and chef Brian Cooper from Farmacy Catering.
All proceeds from the event go back to supporting the York County Food Bank.
The competition will be held on Monday, Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at Wyndridge Farm, located at 885 S. Pleasant Ave. in Dallastown. Tickets are still available to be purchased online in advance.
