-TOKYO
-After two days of waiting and watching, the news is in from halfway around the world. The reports are in from Tokyo on Thursday, and they're not good, some say dismal.
It wasn't all that bad in the end, but the chefs were lucky to escape with as good a rating as they did--that of 96.4.
"96 is a very, very good rating, and we should be happy, but we were aiming for so much more than that," said Jim McAllister.
The main blow? The exhibition had the chefs preparing a traditional Thanksgiving meal, and the turkey--the star of the dinner--got its lowest rating since 2002.
NCA critics gave the turkey an 87.1 rating, the lowest at any exhibition or the real event since the 2002 Feast Fest, when the bird garnered an 86.9 mark.
Fortunately, other foods add up to the average score, and other dinner components got some of their HIGHEST ratings ever--the stuffing earned 99.6, the cranberries 98.7, the pie, which was apple for the exhibition instead of the usual pumpkin, a solid 100.
It was only the second 100 for any Feast Fest food, the other being the 100 mark in 2008 for the giblet gravy, which helped that year's Fest achieve a 98.9 NCA approval rating.
The scoresheet was laid out as thus:
Turkey 87.1
Stuffing 99.6
Gravy 96.5
G'beans 96.9
C'berries 98.7
Rolls 93.2
M.P. 98.2
Peas 98.2
Pie 100
The blunder spread to other foods, too; rolls/biscuits received their lowest rating since 2005. The rolls and biscuits have consistently been the highest rated FF food.
The mash potatoes and peas split even at 98.2.
Several prime chefs--the Masons, Lynn Avi, Jan Stephan--were absent from the Tokyo exhibition, giving the showcase a little less zip. Jim McAllister was appointed head chef of the exhibition in place of the Masons; Joe Pasik played Head Sous-Chef, McAllister's real position in the event; and Lisa Choi and Andruw Stephan played Assistant Head Sous-Chefs in place of Avi and Pasik. 1,267 flocked to the exhibition. 90% of attendees were Japanese.
"I hope they enjoyed it, but I wish we could have given them just a little bit of a better show to see," said Pasik of the first ever Feast Fest exhibition outside North America. "Everyone in the audience got a little sample of the dinner. The NCA critics said the turkey was bone dry. I heard some people in the crowd saying the same thing in a sort of halting English. 'This is their traditional feast?' I heard one say."
Pasik was optimistic about the pie and stuffing, but remorseful about the turkey.
"We had it imported from the U.S. to Japan. I guess all that pressurized air on the plane dried it out. They didn't keep it moist. We were practically drowning this turkey and we couldn't get it moist at all," he explained.
"We could've done better."
The next exhibition will also be the last exhibition before Feast Fest--November 2nd, at Kitchen Stadium USA in New York.
"Higher hopes there, definitely," Pasik remarked.
The NCA Feast Fest lives here
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Feast Fest News: 2010 Galen-Ames's Last Year
-10/16/10, 5:01 p.m.
-LOS ANGELES
-Feast Fest concurred in Los Angeles Friday, and before leaving to fly back home to Illinois before returning to L.A. for Feast Fest in November, Fest Chef Brianna Galen-Ames, the event's youngest ever chef, held a press conference and made a surprising--some might say stunning--announcement.
Galen-Ames, 15, is entering her fourth year with Feast Fest after joining in 2007 at age 12. And this fourth Feast Fest, Galen-Ames said, will be her last.
"This decision is unbelievably hard to make, but 2010 will be my last Feast Fest," Galen-Ames declared in front of a small, exclusive, yet shocked crowd.
When pressed for an explanation, the 15 year old maven relented a little. "Well, say that this decision is 100%, I do not wish to. It is a probable decision but not 100% definite. My mother is moving to Europe in June and I will train in culinary schools there. The possibility of me being able to make it overseas to Feast Fest while committed to culinary school, however, is a small one. Therefore, I have decided to make this announcement to prepare everybody, but should I be able to return, I hope I will be welcomed back with open arms."
Galen-Ames's leave will leave yet another gaping hole for Feast Fest scouters to fill before 2011. They were hoping for a quiet offseason before 2011's Feast Fest after saying farewell to three chefs already this offseason. Keith Wholehreh, Alsace Jacquaraiene, and Guillaime Jacquetaine all left Feast Fest in summer of this year after only one year with the event
Her announcement, however, that she will not move to Europe until June has some FF enthusiasts stirring.
Event Manager William Vanderbilt stated, "There are about four or five Feast Fest preparatory exhibitions before the date she is slated to move. Whether or not she participates in those could give us some idea as to what her plan is for FF '11."
But, as Galen-Ames herself pointed out, that, is 13 months away. "This is a just-in-case announcement. I should know hopefully before the scouters close their deliberations next year whether or not I will want to return."
FF scouters had some salary disagreements with Galen-Ames over the summer, and some wondered if that helped to fuel her desire to leave, but she denied these claims. "If I must leave next year, I say here wholeheartedly that it will be very difficult for me."
-LOS ANGELES
-Feast Fest concurred in Los Angeles Friday, and before leaving to fly back home to Illinois before returning to L.A. for Feast Fest in November, Fest Chef Brianna Galen-Ames, the event's youngest ever chef, held a press conference and made a surprising--some might say stunning--announcement.
Galen-Ames, 15, is entering her fourth year with Feast Fest after joining in 2007 at age 12. And this fourth Feast Fest, Galen-Ames said, will be her last.
"This decision is unbelievably hard to make, but 2010 will be my last Feast Fest," Galen-Ames declared in front of a small, exclusive, yet shocked crowd.
When pressed for an explanation, the 15 year old maven relented a little. "Well, say that this decision is 100%, I do not wish to. It is a probable decision but not 100% definite. My mother is moving to Europe in June and I will train in culinary schools there. The possibility of me being able to make it overseas to Feast Fest while committed to culinary school, however, is a small one. Therefore, I have decided to make this announcement to prepare everybody, but should I be able to return, I hope I will be welcomed back with open arms."
Galen-Ames's leave will leave yet another gaping hole for Feast Fest scouters to fill before 2011. They were hoping for a quiet offseason before 2011's Feast Fest after saying farewell to three chefs already this offseason. Keith Wholehreh, Alsace Jacquaraiene, and Guillaime Jacquetaine all left Feast Fest in summer of this year after only one year with the event
Her announcement, however, that she will not move to Europe until June has some FF enthusiasts stirring.
Event Manager William Vanderbilt stated, "There are about four or five Feast Fest preparatory exhibitions before the date she is slated to move. Whether or not she participates in those could give us some idea as to what her plan is for FF '11."
But, as Galen-Ames herself pointed out, that, is 13 months away. "This is a just-in-case announcement. I should know hopefully before the scouters close their deliberations next year whether or not I will want to return."
FF scouters had some salary disagreements with Galen-Ames over the summer, and some wondered if that helped to fuel her desire to leave, but she denied these claims. "If I must leave next year, I say here wholeheartedly that it will be very difficult for me."
Feast Fest Mini Concerts, Boardgamers Baseball and Solars Hockey!
For the first time ever, we're having a mini concert EVERY day of Feast Fest, INCLUDING Thanksgiving, whereas before Thanksgiving was the one day that did NOT have a mini concert.
Playing Feast Fest this year:
Wed. Nov. 24, 7 p.m. - The Clarksons
Thu., Nov. 25, 5 p.m. - Black Leather
Fri., Nov. 26, 7 p.m. - Van Halen Tribute Band
Sat., Nov. 27, 7 p.m. - Van Morrison Tribute Band
Sun., Nov. 28, 7 p.m. - Skittles Tribute Band
ALSO, sports will be a part of Feast Fest for the first time ever this year! All who buy a Feast Fest package ticket will also receive FOUR FREE tickets to the two sports games taking place in conjunction with Feast Fest this year. Minor league hockey's Manhattan Beach Solars will move their November 24 and 26 home games a little further up the coast to the Marina Arena, steps from the Beachview. The Solars will host Morro Bay at 5 p.m. on Wednesday the 24th and Indianapolis at 7:30p.m. on Friday the 26th.
The Winter League's Yosemite Boardgamers will play their Nov. 24 game at B.C. Park, just steps away from the Beachview, at 5p.m. on Friday the 26th against the Toronto Ice.
Adding these extra concerts and sports games will help to further enhance a spectacular Thanksgiving weekend here in the Marina. Although the main event is centered around Thursday and the food, these additions will give Feast Fest guests several other fun activities to partake in as well.
Again, tickets to the mini concerts and sports games are FREE if you buy a Feast Fest ticket package--the tickets to the concerts and games are included in the Feast Fest package.
Playing Feast Fest this year:
Wed. Nov. 24, 7 p.m. - The Clarksons
Thu., Nov. 25, 5 p.m. - Black Leather
Fri., Nov. 26, 7 p.m. - Van Halen Tribute Band
Sat., Nov. 27, 7 p.m. - Van Morrison Tribute Band
Sun., Nov. 28, 7 p.m. - Skittles Tribute Band
ALSO, sports will be a part of Feast Fest for the first time ever this year! All who buy a Feast Fest package ticket will also receive FOUR FREE tickets to the two sports games taking place in conjunction with Feast Fest this year. Minor league hockey's Manhattan Beach Solars will move their November 24 and 26 home games a little further up the coast to the Marina Arena, steps from the Beachview. The Solars will host Morro Bay at 5 p.m. on Wednesday the 24th and Indianapolis at 7:30p.m. on Friday the 26th.
The Winter League's Yosemite Boardgamers will play their Nov. 24 game at B.C. Park, just steps away from the Beachview, at 5p.m. on Friday the 26th against the Toronto Ice.
Adding these extra concerts and sports games will help to further enhance a spectacular Thanksgiving weekend here in the Marina. Although the main event is centered around Thursday and the food, these additions will give Feast Fest guests several other fun activities to partake in as well.
Again, tickets to the mini concerts and sports games are FREE if you buy a Feast Fest ticket package--the tickets to the concerts and games are included in the Feast Fest package.
Feast Fest 2011-Nov. 23-27, 2011-tix on sale now!
-SPECIAL OFFER-
For those who already have their preparations in order for Feast Fest 2010, we remind you that tickets are NOW ON SALE -- at the earliest date EVER -- for Feast Fest 2011, Wednesday, November 23-Sunday, November 27, 2010, with the Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, November 24. SPECIAL EARLY BIRD RATES AVAILABLE if you book tickets for next year's Feast Fest BEFORE this year's Feast Fest. Book before Nov. 24 to receive up to 40% off!
-INFORMATION-
Feast Fest 2011 or Feast Fest XVII will be the seventeenth installment of the world's largest simultaneous international competitive cooking event, to be held at the Marina del Rey Hotel-Beachview Resort in Marina del Rey, California, from 12:07 p.m. to 6:46 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2011, with ceremonies surrounding the event from Wednesday, November 23 to Sunday, November 27. The event will be presided over by the Mason duo and Jim McAllister, who will become the third co-head chef in 2011. 2010 will be his last year as Head Sous-Chef, and his position will be assumed by Lynn Avi. Lynn Avi, formerly an Assistant Head Sous-Chef, will leave room for Jan Stephan to assume his first authoritative position with the event.
For those who already have their preparations in order for Feast Fest 2010, we remind you that tickets are NOW ON SALE -- at the earliest date EVER -- for Feast Fest 2011, Wednesday, November 23-Sunday, November 27, 2010, with the Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, November 24. SPECIAL EARLY BIRD RATES AVAILABLE if you book tickets for next year's Feast Fest BEFORE this year's Feast Fest. Book before Nov. 24 to receive up to 40% off!
-INFORMATION-
Feast Fest 2011 or Feast Fest XVII will be the seventeenth installment of the world's largest simultaneous international competitive cooking event, to be held at the Marina del Rey Hotel-Beachview Resort in Marina del Rey, California, from 12:07 p.m. to 6:46 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2011, with ceremonies surrounding the event from Wednesday, November 23 to Sunday, November 27. The event will be presided over by the Mason duo and Jim McAllister, who will become the third co-head chef in 2011. 2010 will be his last year as Head Sous-Chef, and his position will be assumed by Lynn Avi. Lynn Avi, formerly an Assistant Head Sous-Chef, will leave room for Jan Stephan to assume his first authoritative position with the event.
Feast Fest 2010 Wiki
From the Feast Fest 2010 Wiki:
Feast Fest 2010 or Feast Fest XVI, will be the sixteenth installment of Feast Fest, the world's largest international simultaneous competitive cooking event. The event is set to take place at the Marina del Rey Hotel-Beachview Resort from 12:14 p.m. to 6:53 p.m. on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010. After a slight decline in customer traffic in 2009 due to the economic crisis, Feast Fest 2010 is estimated to be the most highly attended Feast Fest ever. The number of Kitchen Passes, the Passes that allow one to view the cooking action from the kitchen, have been upgraded by customer demand from 125 to 200. After much turmoil in the 2010 Feast Fest offseason regarding the possibility of the Masons leaving the event and Jim McAllister taking over as Head Chef, it was concluded in September 2010 that the Masons would Head-Chef the 2010 Feast Fest and that McAllister would join them at the Head Chef's table in 2011.
EXHIBITIONS
6 preparatory exhibitions were performed for Feast Fest, all with high NCA scores. There is one exhibition left on the schedule.
1/16/10 @ Nyland Cooking Center, San Diego, CA, score 95.4
1/27/10 @ Lala Restaurant, Manhattan, NY, score 95.9
4/2/10 @ Windows on the Water Restaurant, Morro Bay, CA, score 97.3
4/28/10 @ Edelyn Cooking Arena, Punta Gorda, FL, score 98.8
7/25/10 @ Notes Restaurant, Long Beach, CA, score 98.1
10/14/10 @ Kitchen Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, score 96.2
11/2/10 @ U.S. Kitchen Stadium, New York, NY
The Masons were absent for the 4/28 and 10/14 exhibitions and will be absent for the 11/2 exhibition.
Jim McAllister was absent on the cooking floor for, ironically, the 7/25 exhibition, which was held in his own restaurant, due to a 7/21 appendectomy. McAllister attended but did not participate in the exhibition.
Lynn Avi was absent for the 10/14 Tokyo exhibition.
Joe Pasik will be absent for the 11/2 exhibition.
Jan Stephan was absent for the 1/16 and 10/14 exhibitions.
Andruw Stephan was absent for the 1/27 exhibition.
Only one exhibition (4/2, Morro Bay, CA), had all 58 Feast Fest chefs in participation.
Feast Fest 2010 or Feast Fest XVI, will be the sixteenth installment of Feast Fest, the world's largest international simultaneous competitive cooking event. The event is set to take place at the Marina del Rey Hotel-Beachview Resort from 12:14 p.m. to 6:53 p.m. on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010. After a slight decline in customer traffic in 2009 due to the economic crisis, Feast Fest 2010 is estimated to be the most highly attended Feast Fest ever. The number of Kitchen Passes, the Passes that allow one to view the cooking action from the kitchen, have been upgraded by customer demand from 125 to 200. After much turmoil in the 2010 Feast Fest offseason regarding the possibility of the Masons leaving the event and Jim McAllister taking over as Head Chef, it was concluded in September 2010 that the Masons would Head-Chef the 2010 Feast Fest and that McAllister would join them at the Head Chef's table in 2011.
EXHIBITIONS
6 preparatory exhibitions were performed for Feast Fest, all with high NCA scores. There is one exhibition left on the schedule.
1/16/10 @ Nyland Cooking Center, San Diego, CA, score 95.4
1/27/10 @ Lala Restaurant, Manhattan, NY, score 95.9
4/2/10 @ Windows on the Water Restaurant, Morro Bay, CA, score 97.3
4/28/10 @ Edelyn Cooking Arena, Punta Gorda, FL, score 98.8
7/25/10 @ Notes Restaurant, Long Beach, CA, score 98.1
10/14/10 @ Kitchen Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, score 96.2
11/2/10 @ U.S. Kitchen Stadium, New York, NY
The Masons were absent for the 4/28 and 10/14 exhibitions and will be absent for the 11/2 exhibition.
Jim McAllister was absent on the cooking floor for, ironically, the 7/25 exhibition, which was held in his own restaurant, due to a 7/21 appendectomy. McAllister attended but did not participate in the exhibition.
Lynn Avi was absent for the 10/14 Tokyo exhibition.
Joe Pasik will be absent for the 11/2 exhibition.
Jan Stephan was absent for the 1/16 and 10/14 exhibitions.
Andruw Stephan was absent for the 1/27 exhibition.
Only one exhibition (4/2, Morro Bay, CA), had all 58 Feast Fest chefs in participation.
FEAST FEST 2010
2010 Feast Fest - 11/24-11/28
Join us for the sixteenth consecutive year as the Beachview Resort here in Marina del Rey hosts the 2010 NCA Feast Fest, Thanksgiving weekend, Wednesday, November 24, 2010, to Sunday, November 28, 2010. Come taste the best Thanksgiving meals in the world and witness all the culinary action by purchasing a Kitchen Pass. Host your Thanksgiving family reunion here in beautiful Marina del Rey, using Feast Fest as the backdrop for an incredible holiday weekend you'll never forget.
Join us for the sixteenth consecutive year as the Beachview Resort here in Marina del Rey hosts the 2010 NCA Feast Fest, Thanksgiving weekend, Wednesday, November 24, 2010, to Sunday, November 28, 2010. Come taste the best Thanksgiving meals in the world and witness all the culinary action by purchasing a Kitchen Pass. Host your Thanksgiving family reunion here in beautiful Marina del Rey, using Feast Fest as the backdrop for an incredible holiday weekend you'll never forget.
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