The Chamber Chef School at the JW

Doreen Bolhuis of GYMCO stole the show with this apron

I was afraid to tell our executive chef, Andrew Voss, that I've agreed to host 25 guest "chefs" from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce board for a JW Chef School. We just have never done a chef school for such a big group. But since I'm on the board, we had to figure out a way to make it happen. Frankly, we couldn't think of a better team builder than the chef school. What a better way to get to know your colleagues than in a neutral field where most people are away from their comfort zones. 

Our new chairman, Curt Wells of Huntington Bank, insisted of doing away with the all day retreat and usual club sandwiches. It's time for fun and he couldn't agree more than to host a chef school. 

The group was divided into three teams and each team were assigned their respective culinary coaches. Due to my familiarity to the setting and the program, I thought it was best that I stayed neutral. So I decided to DJ instead and lead the judging along with my celebrity judges, Azizah Hines and Laura Caprara. The niceties lasted just a few minutes with the teams before the competitiveness of all these type A-players started coming out. With music blaring, each team peeled, sauteed, deep fried, boiled their way through the process (with a few thrown food items along the way). A surprise flambe course was thrown in to ruffle the team's timing a bit. Oh, what fun it was to see CEO's sweat a little bit! 

The teams tasted and plated each course with the flambe course prepared table side in front of the judges. To the delight of many of the participants, these neophyte culinarians produced some pretty amazing dishes. The beauty of this team builder is everyone went home feeling a little bit more accomplished and proud of surviving their first JW Chef School. You just can't beat it.

The JW has hosted about 100 chef schools in the past year. For more information, please email Phil Weaver at phil.weeaver@jwgr.com. Leave me a note, too, if you'd like and I will send your company a brochure. By the way, we have also hosted families, including teenagers for this fabulous team building event.

A delicious slider

Mike Mraz of Jade Pig Ventures was a flambe expert

Selection of goodies form the JW kitchen

Are we having fun?

After this event, Davenport University will probably consider a culinary program!

It's all about how you look

Chamber president, Jeanne Englehart, couldn't escape Curt's delightful personality in the kitchen

A deep fried delight

Doug Small of the CVB was a natural in the kitchen

The Chamber Culinary Team

Doug Dozeman of Warner Norcross & Judd shows Kent County Commissioner, 

Sandi Frost Parish his unique way of tenderizing meat

The flambe set-up

Sonya Hughes methodically cuts bacon

This was a favorite with the judges

World class presentation

Sandi and Jerry Kooiman of MSU College of Human Medicine shares

a good laugh with culinary coach, Matt Varley

Kevin Stotts was at home with the big stove

Pad Thai so good, one of the judges took some to-go

Scallops with "colorful" sauces

The Flambe King at work

Curt using every possible way to "bribe" the judges,;Azizah Hines

 and Laura Caprara of Grand Rapids Social Diary