Chefs from Eastern Iowa will try and out-cook each other at Iowa Public Radio’s fourth Battle of the Chefs in Cedar Rapids at New Bo City Market on Wednesday, May 5.
During this Talk of Iowa interview, host Charity Nebbe talks with this year’s new faces: Jim Vido of the Ladora Bank Bistro; Drew Weis of Flatted Fifth Blues and BBQ (Potter’s Mill); and Daniel Dennis, a chef with Lion Bridge Brewing.
Joel Kane, the owner of Bata’s in Cedar Rapids, also joins the conversation. Bata’s chef Monkut Sayasit won last year and will be defending his title next week.
“I think this is just a fun thing to be able to expose the level of chefs that we have in the area, and the quality of food that is continuing to go up. I’m not going to tell you what he’s doing. What I will tell you is that it sounds like it’s a really pork themed competition, and I will tell you that Mon is not going to be doing pork. And he is going to be doing something a little bit different that nobody has really had around here,” Kane says.
“We’re looking forward to being a part of this again… We go to a couple different showcases around the area, but this is the one where we really get to come together as a community.
During the battle, the Java Jews, a Klezmer band based out of Des Moines, will be performing. During this Talk of Iowa conversation, we also hear from Abe Goldstein, who plays accordion for the band, and get a sample of their music.
