Houston City Club Holds "Chefs of Steel" Event

Six Chefs from Houston Area ClubCorp Clubs Compete for Bragging Rights While Raising Money, Food for Houston Food Bank

HOUSTON - More than 250 members and guests gathered Nov. 3 at the Houston City Club for the “Chefs of Steel” competition, which featured six Houston-area club chefs battling it out for bragging rights during the event, which also collected food and raised money for the Houston Food Bank. The event was the third and final in a series of 2011 “hub” events – held by Houston-area clubs in the ClubCorp family – designed to bring the 25,000 members of those 10 clubs together.

The chefs, at their food stations, each prepared three different dishes –– one seafood, one vegetarian, and one meat –– which attendees sampled in between mingling and sipping on cocktails. The panel of judges included Dan Pastorini, former Houston Oilers quarterback; Nick Lanza, a member of the Houston City Club Board of Governors and wine aficionado; and Bear Dalton, a nationally recognized wine expert from Spec’s, a local high-end beer and wine store. Eric Affeldt, ClubCorp President and CEO, served as master of ceremonies for the event. Attendees donated non-perishable food items for the Houston Food Bank as part of their admittance and also could vote on their favorite chef by donating $1 per vote. At the end of the evening, the voting raised more than $850 for the Food Bank.

Robin Kreman, Executive Chef at Bay Oaks Country Club, won the Taster’s Choice Award for his South Texas Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and Bourbon-Ancho Sauce, Fire Roasted Chile Potato Pancakes, and Chayote Succotash.

ClubCorp recently began holding hub events in its major markets to enhance the private club experience for members and to expand members’ opportunities to build relationships.