THUNDER BAY -- Yo Chef! will be taking the stage for an evening of hip hop and cooking at Daytona’s restaurant.
Three of the past champions will compete in a black box competition, where all ingredients chosen by the seven judges are placed into a black box. Competitors John Murray (Red Lion Smokehouse) Nikos Mantis (Pinetree Catering) and Megan Paxton (Pinetree Catering) will put together a dish without knowing their ingredients.
“Yo Chef! is a black box cooking competition with an influence of hip hop,” said Daytona’s head chef Andrew Stone.
“It all started here in the restaurant after hours on Sunday, some of the staff would get together and do a little cooking competition.”
Following a few after-hour competitions, the cooks decided to make the contest bigger and raise money for local charities.
Since it first started in 2014, Yo Chef! has raised more than $14,000 for three local charities including Adopt a Mutt Rescue, Roots to Harvest and Friends of Olivia.
This year the funds will be going toward Our Kids Count, an organization designed to address food security in the city.
Our Kids Count executive director Gladys Berringer said the demand for Our Kids Count programs has increased dramatically in the last few years.
“It continues to grow,” Berringer said. “This month alone we have had more than 120 people come just to access our emergency food cupboard and that’s way up from normal, so our kitchens our full.”
The organization’s main mandate was to work alongside parents with children, but in the last five years they’ve expanded and currently include all demographics.
This year, they’ve seen more than 700 families who have walked through their doors, which is an increase from last year.
“We are just providing real help, right now for families that need it the most.”
Admission costs $10, which includes entry and access to the buffet provided by Barbecupid.
Yo! Chef takes place at Daytona's on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
