KAABOO Rock’N Chef | 2016

In a continued partnership with the KAABOO Chef’s Roll once again presented this year’s ROCK’N CHEF COMPETITION at the KAABOO Music Festival. Celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey joined emcee Troy Johnson on the Palate stage as Phillip Esteban, Michael Poompan, Steve Brown, Anthony Sinsay, Dushyant Singh and Herve Glin went head-to-head in the “winner-takes-all” challenge on Saturday, September 17.

Chefs were judged by a respected panel of culinary experts, including Eater San Diego editor Candice Woo, MasterChef Season 6 winner Claudia Sandoval, Top Chef Season 13 contestant Giselle Wellman, Dining Out San Diego editor Josh Kopelman, the “People’s Chef” James Montejano, and last year’s KAABOO ROCK’N CHEF Champion, Jason McLeod. In a tight competition which saw each chef creating a dish using Satsuma A5 Wagyu, Barilla Pasta, Melissa’s Produce and Fresh Origins micro greens, Steve Brown and Phillip Esteban were eventually chosen as the two chefs who would proceed to the grand final.

Ultimately Imperial Beach local Steve Brown clinched victory, winning entry to the World Food Championships in November for a chance to win $100,000, a black leather JENDE knife roll plus a custom handmade James Cosimini knife, and a KitchenAid Commercial Immersion blender.