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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2019)
20 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Chef competes in Bend By Jodi Schneider Correspondent Eight accomplished local chefs from Central Oregon competed to prove their culi- nary skills kicking off the Top Chef Competition at the Bite of Bend on Saturday with Chef Jon Hosler, owner of The Porch in Sisters, competing against Chef Chad Berg for Deschutes Brewery in round one. The Porch has been a pop- ular dinnerhouse in Sisters since 2012. It is a family affair. Hosler9s mother and partner Caryl Hosler is well- known in Sisters for her work at Jen9s Garden and Thyme. A few years back she won an Iron Chef competition with TR McCrystal, Sisters High School culinary arts instructor. While Caryl was work- ing as the sous chef under TR McCrystal at Jen9s Garden and Thyme, Jon was work- ing the same trade in Southern California. Chef Jon noted that he began his career in Los Angeles and has been cook- ing in the industry for 20 years, working his way up self-taught and dedicated to learning everything from some great mentors which led him into jobs such as sous chef at Red Car Brewery for a number of years then on to sous chef at Petros, a Greek and Mediterranean fine dining restaurant. Later in his career he focused on consulting for a restaurant development com- pany as well as TV and movie craft service catering. Family and friends brought him to Central Oregon with an opportunity to open his first restaurant, The Porch, seven years ago. <I9ve had great training,= he said. <My passion is to cre- ate food, and it9s been great fun being chef at The Porch, sharing a relationship with my mother on a professional level.= The Porch occupies a late- 1940s-style building on Elm Street. An eclectic menu of international gourmet com- fort food is served in a serene atmosphere reminiscent of a private home. He added, <It9s a fun res- taurant that provides a com- fortable home-like setting to enjoy some new and playful ideas on comfort classics glob- ally, including American.= Over the years the Hoslers and their culinary team have used their global comfort theme to bring diners comfort STUDIO TOUR: Guides are available at local galleries Continued from page 9 PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER Chef Jon Hosler and sous chef James Lewis hard at work in Kitchen Stadium at Bite of Bend. classics from all styles of cooking with a modern twist. The competition took place right in the middle of downtown during the Bite of Bend. Two full-sized kitchens were set up for the Top Chef Competition in downtown, and using a <secret ingredi- ent= in a 45-minute cook-off, the two chefs, with the help of their sous chefs, created entrees that were paired with an appetizer or dessert judged by a panel of local foodies. Each chef was allowed a sous chef and each chef could bring six personal ingredients, either spices, oils, flour and vinegars, and each chef has to use the secret ingredient in at least one of the two dishes. The secret ingredient was Cornish Game Hen, which is actually a petite chicken. The <Kitchen Stadium= came alive with delicious aro- mas as the two talented chefs focused on their craft. Chef Hosler created cro- quettes with red, purple and yellow fingerling potatoes with an added appetizer, an arugula salad and a grilled Spanish onion. The judges scored the dishes on flavor, the use of the secret ingredient, presentation, originality, and the synergy between the two dishes. Although Chef Hosler was not chosen to continue through the competition, he learned how the process works. <It9s a great honor to be able to be acknowledged as one of the top chefs amongst the other eight great competitors in Central Oregon,= Hosler told The Nugget. <Now we know how this works and will move forward and plan for next year.= acrylic collage process. Her unpredictable approach is exciting and full of surprises. Sandy9s studio is at 2455 Osprey Drive, Eagle Crest. The Studio Tour Guide, 20 pages in full color with maps, are available in the gal- leries of Sisters, as well as in local restaurants, hotels, the library, and the Chamber of Commerce. The guide can also be downloaded from the Sisters Arts Association web- site. There is no charge for the tour. Visitors will be able to purchase art directly from the artists, or from the many galleries that represent them. The SAA Monthly Quick Draw is expanded to cover all three days of the Art Weekend. Sign up one time per location. This month, SAA will draw for three $100 gift certificates that may be used at participating galler- ies or with any artist on the Studio Tour. Sign up during the Art Stroll on Friday and during the Studio Tour on Saturday or Sunday. More information is avail- able at sistersartsassociation. org. Quilt Drawing for FURRY FRIEND S 501 ( c )( 3 ) FOUNDATION 100% of the proceeds go to Furry Friends Foundation! <Bark for Our Parks II= quilt was designed, appliqued, and quilted by Valerie Fercho-Tillery. The original design and incredible detail make this a spectacular quilt! The quilt is currently on display at the Furry Friends ofoce, 204 W. Adams, Ste. 109, in the Sisters Art Works building (next door to the Habitat Restore parking lot.) Tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or go for it, 25 for $20. Tickets may be purchased at the Furry Friends ofoce or online at www.furryfriendsfoundation.org For more information: 541-797-4023 <Bark for Our Parks II= - by Valerie Fercho-Tillery