- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- Second-year chef Ursula Elfman had the performance of a career during the Mock "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest on Tuesday, scoring 77 NCA points and leading a 71-chef pack. Elfman and other low-tier, newer chefs ruled the Dress Rehearsal, which is often a bellwether for how performances will go on Thanksgiving. For the past ten Feast Fests, all but nine chefs have had their Thursday NCA point total fall within 10 points of their Tuesday tally, meaning we probably can expect huge things from Elfman again over the next forty-eight hours.
Elfman's late surge in which she assembled 31 NCA points in the Dress Rehearsal's final hour combined with the tapered-off action of rookie Skarlett Uhaajhaiyjesen, who led with 42 points at the Rehearsal's midway point but only scraped together 19 in the final three and a half hours, sliding to 61, still an incredibly respectable number that the new hire was not expected to come close to.
Five-year chef Daniel Mettling came second in points scoring, at 74, and the first hierarchical chef to show up on the scoreboard was Jim McAllister, at 73. The Mason Duo had respective totals of 42 and 37 in a Rehearsal in which they saw low Times of Action due to juggling other commitments, but will obviously be devoting their full attention Thursday. Because the Dress Rehearsal does not receive an NCA score, chefs are freer to have low Times of Action, which can result in deductions during scored events such as the real Feast Fest Cooking Portion on Thursday.
The full top 20 placers:
*(H) denotes one of the seven hierarchical chefs.
ELFMAN - 77
METTLING - 74
MCALLISTER - 73
CHOI - 68
AVI - 67
STEPHAN - 67
LAW - 67
JURRJENS - 66
MATFLILIA - 65
PASIK - 63
OKOWORTH - 62
WHOLEHREH - 60
JAHSWHEICH - 59
YIIVITITIMAEV - 57
DUMAS - 57
BARTLETT - 55
MORIMOTA PATTON - 52
STEVENSON - 51
CRELLAS - 51
MONDE - 50
Other notables:
MCNEESE - 43
MASON - 42
OLSCHMEIRE - 40
MASON - 37
YMYKATERINA - 33
ROSS - 26
STILLWORTH - 21
CHU - 12
AIBER - 11
MOTHILY - 10
NacGNISSECORP - 7
PERSONN - 6
Alexei Aiber and Eric NacGnissecorp both spent most of their floor time conducting messenger roles to and from the Elevated Table, accounting for their low point totals. Fredrik Personn complained of complications at his kitchen station, as did 10-point Kevin Bough Mothily. Both stations were being examined for technical difficulties late Tuesday, and repairs will attempt to made on them before Thursday.
"The pilot light on my stove refused to work," Mothily said.
FF Wire Service
The NCA Feast Fest lives here
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Elfman Tops in Dress Rehearsal Points -- Full List Pending
Continuing her breakout year with Feast Fest, sophomore chef Ursula Elfman led the pack in the nonscored Dress Rehearsal with 77 points.
Full list pending of point totals.
Full list pending of point totals.
Uhaajhaiyjesen Leads in Points Through 3 1/2 Hours
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- Halfway through the Mock Dress Rehearsal Feast Fest, a new hire is being the most productive.
Skarlett Uhaajhaiyjesen had 42 NCA points through three and a half hours of the seven-hour Dress Rehearsal, earning them partly on the back of 7 2-point triple flips or higher, which adds 14 points to her count. Her regular point count is 25, with the 14 triple flip or higher points, 1 double flip point, 1 speed point, and 1 style point.
Second in points at the halfway mark was Jim McAllister, with 40.
And Adam McNeese seems fully recovered from his hamstring scare last week; on the floor, he's earned 39 points, tied for third with Jan Stephan.
FF Wire Service
- Halfway through the Mock Dress Rehearsal Feast Fest, a new hire is being the most productive.
Skarlett Uhaajhaiyjesen had 42 NCA points through three and a half hours of the seven-hour Dress Rehearsal, earning them partly on the back of 7 2-point triple flips or higher, which adds 14 points to her count. Her regular point count is 25, with the 14 triple flip or higher points, 1 double flip point, 1 speed point, and 1 style point.
Second in points at the halfway mark was Jim McAllister, with 40.
And Adam McNeese seems fully recovered from his hamstring scare last week; on the floor, he's earned 39 points, tied for third with Jan Stephan.
FF Wire Service
Cooking Portion Bell Rings At Mock "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- The cooking portion bell officially rang at 1:15 p.m. and the Mock "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest XX is officially underway, with all 71 chefs participating.
The Dress Rehearsal is an exact carbon copy of the actual Feast Fest, only moved an hour and fifteen minutes later and with an abbreviated PrepFest. The Mock "Dress Rehearsal" PrepFest began three hours prior to the start of the "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest; on Thursday, it will begin five hours prior to the Official Cooking Portion. The "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest's cooking portion runs from 1:15-8:15 p.m.; the actual Feast Fest will run from 12-7.
Adam McNeese, who pulled a hamstring during a Core Skills Runthrough last Thursday, is moving well around the floor and should be good to go for Thanksgiving. Just in case anything should go awry between now and Thursday, however, relief chef Johan Mavliscev, who has never seen the Feast Fest floor on Thanksgiving, is getting valuable time here in the Dress Rehearsal.
FF Wire Service
- The cooking portion bell officially rang at 1:15 p.m. and the Mock "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest XX is officially underway, with all 71 chefs participating.
The Dress Rehearsal is an exact carbon copy of the actual Feast Fest, only moved an hour and fifteen minutes later and with an abbreviated PrepFest. The Mock "Dress Rehearsal" PrepFest began three hours prior to the start of the "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest; on Thursday, it will begin five hours prior to the Official Cooking Portion. The "Dress Rehearsal" Feast Fest's cooking portion runs from 1:15-8:15 p.m.; the actual Feast Fest will run from 12-7.
Adam McNeese, who pulled a hamstring during a Core Skills Runthrough last Thursday, is moving well around the floor and should be good to go for Thanksgiving. Just in case anything should go awry between now and Thursday, however, relief chef Johan Mavliscev, who has never seen the Feast Fest floor on Thanksgiving, is getting valuable time here in the Dress Rehearsal.
FF Wire Service
Monday, November 24, 2014
Olschmeire, Yiivititimaev Picked by McAllister, Mason Duo, Avi As "Highest-Level Go-Tos" Among New Chefs
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- Feast Fest's nine offseason additions on Monday afternoon participated in the New Chefs' Orientation session on the Feast Fest floor. Despite the title, it's not about orienting new chefs with Feast Fest--they've been practicing all week and some have appeared already in offseason exhibitions following their signing--as it is about orienting hierarchical chefs with the new hires and how they can be best used.
Co-Head Chefs Jim McAllister and the Mason Duo, and Head Sous-Chef Lynn Avi, the event's four most powerful chefs, identified Kevin Olschmeire and Ondrej Yiivitimaev as the "highest-level go-tos" out of the nine.
It essentially means that if a direct order is placed on a chef by one of the Big Four, they'll trust Olschmeire and Yiivitimaev the most to carry it out.
It's especially important for Lynn Avi, who as Head Sous Chef plays something of a messenger's role between the Elevated Table and the rest of the chef body.
"All nine are spectacular chefs and all will have chances to shine on Thursday," said Avi, "but from a tactical standpoint, when we need to call on something specifically to get something done, Kevin and Ondrej look like the most competent ones to be able to deliver on demands."
As for the seven other new hires, she said, "We'll let them get their feet wet this year, performing menial tasks as most first-year chefs do. This group is loaded with potential for the future, however. The new chef orientation is just our way of getting acquainted with the newbies so that we can know what they're most skilled at and so that we don't task them with something in an area in which they can't excel. That's really all it's about. We want the best chefs working on the areas of the dinner that they can perform the best in."
FF Wire Service
- Feast Fest's nine offseason additions on Monday afternoon participated in the New Chefs' Orientation session on the Feast Fest floor. Despite the title, it's not about orienting new chefs with Feast Fest--they've been practicing all week and some have appeared already in offseason exhibitions following their signing--as it is about orienting hierarchical chefs with the new hires and how they can be best used.
Co-Head Chefs Jim McAllister and the Mason Duo, and Head Sous-Chef Lynn Avi, the event's four most powerful chefs, identified Kevin Olschmeire and Ondrej Yiivitimaev as the "highest-level go-tos" out of the nine.
It essentially means that if a direct order is placed on a chef by one of the Big Four, they'll trust Olschmeire and Yiivitimaev the most to carry it out.
It's especially important for Lynn Avi, who as Head Sous Chef plays something of a messenger's role between the Elevated Table and the rest of the chef body.
"All nine are spectacular chefs and all will have chances to shine on Thursday," said Avi, "but from a tactical standpoint, when we need to call on something specifically to get something done, Kevin and Ondrej look like the most competent ones to be able to deliver on demands."
As for the seven other new hires, she said, "We'll let them get their feet wet this year, performing menial tasks as most first-year chefs do. This group is loaded with potential for the future, however. The new chef orientation is just our way of getting acquainted with the newbies so that we can know what they're most skilled at and so that we don't task them with something in an area in which they can't excel. That's really all it's about. We want the best chefs working on the areas of the dinner that they can perform the best in."
FF Wire Service
Bartlett, Uhaajhaiyjesen Chosen for Pie Thawing
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- Feast Fest expert commentator Mike Vilshire has an in on who's getting to do Wednesday's ceremonial pie thawing: and for the first time, two chefs have been chosen.
"2 chefs for pie thawing: 5-year chef Gerald Bartlett and newbie Uhaajhaiyjesen."
- Mike Vilshire (@ffmikeyvilshire) 02:36 UTC November 25; 2014
Uhaajhaiyjesen refers to offseason signee Skarlett Uhaajhaiyjesen, a Swedish-born and trained chef.
No word on why two chefs were chosen instead of the usual one. Chefs are chosen for the pie thawing by random draw.
FF Wire Service
Merrssff: "Elated" to Receive Ceremonial Turkey Yet Again
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- Feast Fest officials revealed Monday that Lindbergh Merrssff will yet again be honored with the Ceremonial Turkey, the first turkey placed into the ovens by the Head Chefs at the beginning of the Official Cooking Portion.
The love just doesn't run out for the septuagenarian Merrssff, a Feast Fest chef from its 1995 beginnings to 2008. Merrssff received the Ceremonial in 2011 and 2012; last year, Suzy and Jan Jenkins, the L.A. Wild owners, got the honorable bird.
Toward the middle and end of the 2000s, the Ceremonial was usually handed out to prominent celebrities, but in recent years has returned to its earlier form of being bestowed upon past Feast Fest dignitaries.
Merrssff, who would have been present at Feast Fest anyway as he has since taken on the less demanding job of critiquing Feast Fest, released this statement:
"For the third time in the last four years, I am exceedingly honored and humbled to receive the Ceremonial Turkey. Sometimes you wonder if you will begin to lose relevancy, if newer chefs won't remember you the way older ones do. After all, this Thanksgiving will be my sixth since I left the event due to aging in 2008. But I am made so glad to witness that Feast Fest has again chosen me. Countless other chefs and dignitaries are equally eligible to have this gracious honor bestowed upon them, and I can only step aside and issue the most profound of thank yous for the fact that I have again been chosen as the Ceremonial Turkey recipient."
An anonymous Feast Fest official said that there had been no other contenders giving Merrssff a run for the honor. "We knew for a long time that Lindbergh was going to receive the Ceremonial this year," said the official, speaking anonymously because she was unauthorized to speak publicly. "He deserves it more than anybody else. He is legendary."
FF Wire Service
- Feast Fest officials revealed Monday that Lindbergh Merrssff will yet again be honored with the Ceremonial Turkey, the first turkey placed into the ovens by the Head Chefs at the beginning of the Official Cooking Portion.
The love just doesn't run out for the septuagenarian Merrssff, a Feast Fest chef from its 1995 beginnings to 2008. Merrssff received the Ceremonial in 2011 and 2012; last year, Suzy and Jan Jenkins, the L.A. Wild owners, got the honorable bird.
Toward the middle and end of the 2000s, the Ceremonial was usually handed out to prominent celebrities, but in recent years has returned to its earlier form of being bestowed upon past Feast Fest dignitaries.
Merrssff, who would have been present at Feast Fest anyway as he has since taken on the less demanding job of critiquing Feast Fest, released this statement:
"For the third time in the last four years, I am exceedingly honored and humbled to receive the Ceremonial Turkey. Sometimes you wonder if you will begin to lose relevancy, if newer chefs won't remember you the way older ones do. After all, this Thanksgiving will be my sixth since I left the event due to aging in 2008. But I am made so glad to witness that Feast Fest has again chosen me. Countless other chefs and dignitaries are equally eligible to have this gracious honor bestowed upon them, and I can only step aside and issue the most profound of thank yous for the fact that I have again been chosen as the Ceremonial Turkey recipient."
An anonymous Feast Fest official said that there had been no other contenders giving Merrssff a run for the honor. "We knew for a long time that Lindbergh was going to receive the Ceremonial this year," said the official, speaking anonymously because she was unauthorized to speak publicly. "He deserves it more than anybody else. He is legendary."
FF Wire Service
Foster Lands Sextuple Flip
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Welcome to Feast Fest, Germaine Foster.
The July offseason acquisition showed incredible talent with a sextuple flip during a Core Skills Runthrough on Monday, as vouched for by NCA Critic Mayfield Brunehauser, who was observing the chefs' practice. Sadly, no video was taken of the incredible event.
A sextuple flip has only been landed once before in competition, during Feast Fest XVI in 2010, by Jack Mark.
Foster (3/24/83) is a promising young Austrian chef who moved from Vienna to New York to attend culinary school there. In 2012, he became Head Chef of the Swaling Rock Inn in Isle Royale, Mich. He signed to a $198,344 per year one-year deal in July.
Foster is NCA rated at 88.9.
FF Wire Service
-Welcome to Feast Fest, Germaine Foster.
The July offseason acquisition showed incredible talent with a sextuple flip during a Core Skills Runthrough on Monday, as vouched for by NCA Critic Mayfield Brunehauser, who was observing the chefs' practice. Sadly, no video was taken of the incredible event.
A sextuple flip has only been landed once before in competition, during Feast Fest XVI in 2010, by Jack Mark.
Foster (3/24/83) is a promising young Austrian chef who moved from Vienna to New York to attend culinary school there. In 2012, he became Head Chef of the Swaling Rock Inn in Isle Royale, Mich. He signed to a $198,344 per year one-year deal in July.
Foster is NCA rated at 88.9.
FF Wire Service
Nonstop Coverage Monday through Thursday
Keep hitting refresh this week for the latest updates on practices, runthroughs, Tuesday's Mock Dress Rehearsal, and all other elements of the run-up to Feast Fest on Thursday!
On Thursday, look for half-hourly updates on projected scores and other statistics as well as updates of all the happenings on the Feast Fest floor.
Expert analyst Mike Vilshire will run a three-part Expert's Editorial Monday through Wednesday, offering his predictions for the Feast Fest 2014 Most Valuable Chef, Official Score, and 2015 Scouting Preview.
On Thursday, look for half-hourly updates on projected scores and other statistics as well as updates of all the happenings on the Feast Fest floor.
Expert analyst Mike Vilshire will run a three-part Expert's Editorial Monday through Wednesday, offering his predictions for the Feast Fest 2014 Most Valuable Chef, Official Score, and 2015 Scouting Preview.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
L.A. Wild Owners Answer No Questions About Possible Handover Upon FF Arrival
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- Jan and Suzy Jenkins arrived at Feast Fest Sunday from their North Carolina home, but didn't let on any clues about a possible power transfer to be announced Thursday.
FF Wire Service
- Jan and Suzy Jenkins arrived at Feast Fest Sunday from their North Carolina home, but didn't let on any clues about a possible power transfer to be announced Thursday.
FF Wire Service
Choi Wins NCA's Most Fiery (With A Pan)
- Feast Fest's Lisa Choi won the NCA's Most Fiery (With A Pan) 2014 honor, it was revealed late Sunday.
Bigger news would be if Choi hadn't, as the chef with the seventh highest NCA rating out of Feast Fest's 71 has won the honor for the past seven years and for nine of the last ten. The last time a chef other than Choi won was in 2007, when her FF colleague Lynn Avi cradled the trophy.
Choi had a narrower path to victory this time, though, as she only beat out second-place chef Suzanne Fishel, formerly of Feast Fest (2002-2008), by 21 votes, her slimmest margin of victory for the award since 2006.
FF Wire Service
Bigger news would be if Choi hadn't, as the chef with the seventh highest NCA rating out of Feast Fest's 71 has won the honor for the past seven years and for nine of the last ten. The last time a chef other than Choi won was in 2007, when her FF colleague Lynn Avi cradled the trophy.
Choi had a narrower path to victory this time, though, as she only beat out second-place chef Suzanne Fishel, formerly of Feast Fest (2002-2008), by 21 votes, her slimmest margin of victory for the award since 2006.
FF Wire Service
Saturday, November 22, 2014
L.A. Wild's Jenkinses Rumored to Potentially Announce Handover During Feast Fest
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- Word began circling around Feast Fest Saturday that L.A. Wild owners Jan and Suzy Jenkins may want out of the organization that has grown hundredfold in their 27 years at the helm, and which provides 95% of the locally grown produce used for Feast Fest.
The Jenkinses, expected to fly on Monday from their second home in Ingleside, N.C. to Los Angeles, were rumored to announce during Feast Fest on Thursday a handover of L.A. Wild, according to Alan Johns, a Feast Fest chef who knows the Jenkinses personally:
"Talked to @SuzyJenkinsLAW and @JanJenkins who want to appoint Evelith Thursday."
- Alan Johns (@feastfestalanj), 02:46 UTC 23 November 2014
"Evelith" refers to Mary Evelith, the current head of L.A. Wild's Los Angeles County operations and a chief higher-up. At a time when the Jenkinses, respectively 70 and 67 years old, were already considering stepping down and/or taking on a lesser role, Johns' tweet further fueled an already well-stoked fire.
Lana Loumee, a Feast Fest spokesperson, said, "if the Jenkinses do indeed have a plan to publicly announce a change of personnel during Feast Fest, we are not aware of it at this time."
Feast Fest Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister called Thanksgiving "the time to do it, if it's going to be done." McAllister added, "Doing it now will allow us to properly give a farewell to the Jenkinses, who have thrown their sweaters in the mud for this event countless times across twenty years, and it would also allow for the maximum amount of time to get the relationship between Feast Fest and the prospective new leader Evelith right before next Thanksgiving."
The Jenkinses themselves could not be reached for comment Saturday, and neither could Evelith.
FF Wire Service
Friday, November 21, 2014
McNeese Injury "Shouldn't Keep Him Out of FF"
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Feast Fest held its collective breath Friday when youthful wunderkind Adam McNeese was diagnosed with a pulled hamstring after an incident on Thursday during a Core Skills Runthrough, but Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister, who has been monitoring McNeese's condition, calmed fears via social media late Friday:
"McNeese reporting pain is subsiding, was walking of own accord Friday night. Injury shouldn't keep him out of FF."
- Jim McAllister (@jumpinjimmyff) at 06:48 UTC November 22, 2014
McNeese joined Feast Fest in 2013.
Relief Chef Johan Mavliscev filled in for McNeese during Kitchen Equipment Runthroughs Friday afternoon. Mavliscev is Feast Fest's only relief chef, first hired in 2005 in case of injury or illness, but his services have never been required on Thanksgiving itself, only in a total of nine exhibitions across nine years.
-Feast Fest held its collective breath Friday when youthful wunderkind Adam McNeese was diagnosed with a pulled hamstring after an incident on Thursday during a Core Skills Runthrough, but Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister, who has been monitoring McNeese's condition, calmed fears via social media late Friday:
"McNeese reporting pain is subsiding, was walking of own accord Friday night. Injury shouldn't keep him out of FF."
- Jim McAllister (@jumpinjimmyff) at 06:48 UTC November 22, 2014
McNeese joined Feast Fest in 2013.
Relief Chef Johan Mavliscev filled in for McNeese during Kitchen Equipment Runthroughs Friday afternoon. Mavliscev is Feast Fest's only relief chef, first hired in 2005 in case of injury or illness, but his services have never been required on Thanksgiving itself, only in a total of nine exhibitions across nine years.
McNeese Has Pulled Hamstring
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-The word is back on Adam McNeese, who tripped over the outstretched leg of Ronald Lays and took a painful looking tumble during a Core Skills Runthrough Thursday night, and it's not good, as reported by Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister:
"McNeese pulled his hamstring, doctors say. Status not known for Thursday. Will keep you updated."
- Jim McAllister (@jumpinjimmyff) 21:58 UTC 21 November 2014
FF Wire Service
Correction
A post regarding an injury to Adam McNeese mistakenly identified rookie first-year chef Ondrej Yiivititimaev as Konstaatyn Yiivitimaev.
FF Wire Service
FF Wire Service
McNeese Injured During Fast-Paced Core Skills Runthrough
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Adam McNeese reportedly sought medical attention Thursday night after an evening core skills runthrough in which he took a hard tumble after he tripped over Ronald Lays.
31 Feast Fest chefs were going fast and furious on the floor at the Beachview during a vital practice one week before the Big Day Nov. 27. McNeese was part of practice group A, which was conducted its second Core Skills Runthrough of the ten-day preparation session Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m.
McNeese and other chefs were preparing off-Feast Fest dishes in a practice intended to focus on speed and efficiency in getting meals out of the kitchen quickly, in an effort to stamp down on late endings in recent years, when he tripped over the outstretched ankle of the 49-year-old Lays and tumbled into the wall. The accident happened about fifteen minutes before the end of the runthrough, and he complained of ankle pain and looked considerably slower afterward as he did complete the practice.
"Adam went to the Hotel Doctor tonight and we are awaiting word on whether he was injured in any significant fashion," tweeted Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister around Midnight Thursday into Friday.
McNeese (6/25/86) is in his second year with Feast Fest following a previous tenure with its main rival, the New York City Thanksgiving Feast (NYCTC). He recorded 37 NCA points at Feast Fest 2013.
Lays could not be reached for comment on the tumble.
"They just ran right smack into each other rushing around," said Chef Patrick Kermell, who observed the incident. "This is why we're having this special runthrough to focus on speed, so that this stuff won't happen on the floor on Thanksgiving when it counts, because it has before."
Practice Group A will be back in action with a Kitchen Equipment Runthrough Friday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., an activity that will not require much in the way of moving around. They will return to Feast Fest foods with a Core Skills Runthrough Saturday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Notable chefs in Practice Group A include McAllister, Kermell, Lays, McNeese, Daniel Mettling, Jan Stephan, Lynn Avi, Jawrodly Jurrjens, and Ursula Elfman.
Practice Group B will hold a fast paced off-Feast Fest foods Core Skills Runthrough Friday afternoon from Noon to 2 p.m., and will return to Thanksgiving care with a Sunday Core Skills Runthrough from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., taking Saturday off. Practice Group B consists of, among many others, the Mason Duo, Andruw Stephan, Joe Pasik, Jarolde James, Eric NacGnissecorp, Aleck Monde, Jon Chu, and Konstaatyn Yiivititimaev.
Practice Group A will have Sunday off.
FF Wire Service
-Adam McNeese reportedly sought medical attention Thursday night after an evening core skills runthrough in which he took a hard tumble after he tripped over Ronald Lays.
31 Feast Fest chefs were going fast and furious on the floor at the Beachview during a vital practice one week before the Big Day Nov. 27. McNeese was part of practice group A, which was conducted its second Core Skills Runthrough of the ten-day preparation session Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m.
McNeese and other chefs were preparing off-Feast Fest dishes in a practice intended to focus on speed and efficiency in getting meals out of the kitchen quickly, in an effort to stamp down on late endings in recent years, when he tripped over the outstretched ankle of the 49-year-old Lays and tumbled into the wall. The accident happened about fifteen minutes before the end of the runthrough, and he complained of ankle pain and looked considerably slower afterward as he did complete the practice.
"Adam went to the Hotel Doctor tonight and we are awaiting word on whether he was injured in any significant fashion," tweeted Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister around Midnight Thursday into Friday.
McNeese (6/25/86) is in his second year with Feast Fest following a previous tenure with its main rival, the New York City Thanksgiving Feast (NYCTC). He recorded 37 NCA points at Feast Fest 2013.
Lays could not be reached for comment on the tumble.
"They just ran right smack into each other rushing around," said Chef Patrick Kermell, who observed the incident. "This is why we're having this special runthrough to focus on speed, so that this stuff won't happen on the floor on Thanksgiving when it counts, because it has before."
Practice Group A will be back in action with a Kitchen Equipment Runthrough Friday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., an activity that will not require much in the way of moving around. They will return to Feast Fest foods with a Core Skills Runthrough Saturday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Notable chefs in Practice Group A include McAllister, Kermell, Lays, McNeese, Daniel Mettling, Jan Stephan, Lynn Avi, Jawrodly Jurrjens, and Ursula Elfman.
Practice Group B will hold a fast paced off-Feast Fest foods Core Skills Runthrough Friday afternoon from Noon to 2 p.m., and will return to Thanksgiving care with a Sunday Core Skills Runthrough from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., taking Saturday off. Practice Group B consists of, among many others, the Mason Duo, Andruw Stephan, Joe Pasik, Jarolde James, Eric NacGnissecorp, Aleck Monde, Jon Chu, and Konstaatyn Yiivititimaev.
Practice Group A will have Sunday off.
FF Wire Service
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Yiivititimaev: "I ... happy"
- Marina del Rey, Calif.
- After signing final papers and undergoing a basic health check Sunday afternoon which cleared him to make his Feast Fest debut at the Oct. 26 exhibition in Punta Gorda, Fla., late-offseason add-on Ondrej Yiivitimaev conveyed in broken English his ebullience.
"I['m] ... happy. Very happy [to be] here, very happy [to] know [that] I [can] go [to] Florida [for the Oct. 28] exhibition ... Very happy [to] know [that] I [can have a] chance [to] prove my skill[s]. Very happy [to be] here [with all of these other] prestigious chef[s] ... [I am] ready [to] learn [about the] Americana tradition [that is] Thanksgiving ... Ready [to] help [Feast Fest achieve a score of] 100. Very happy. Very happy."
FF Wire Service
- After signing final papers and undergoing a basic health check Sunday afternoon which cleared him to make his Feast Fest debut at the Oct. 26 exhibition in Punta Gorda, Fla., late-offseason add-on Ondrej Yiivitimaev conveyed in broken English his ebullience.
"I['m] ... happy. Very happy [to be] here, very happy [to] know [that] I [can] go [to] Florida [for the Oct. 28] exhibition ... Very happy [to] know [that] I [can have a] chance [to] prove my skill[s]. Very happy [to be] here [with all of these other] prestigious chef[s] ... [I am] ready [to] learn [about the] Americana tradition [that is] Thanksgiving ... Ready [to] help [Feast Fest achieve a score of] 100. Very happy. Very happy."
FF Wire Service
Yiivititimaev Submits Final Papers, Cleared for Oct. 26 in Punta Gorda
- Ondrej Yiivititimaev has been cleared as of Sunday afternoon for the Oct. 26 Edelyn Cooking Arena stand. He signed final papers cementing his contract Sunday, and underwent a thorough health evaluation that cleared him for two Sundays from today.
Fellow October signee Kevin Olschmiere is in the process of clearing final papers.
FF Wire Service
Fellow October signee Kevin Olschmiere is in the process of clearing final papers.
FF Wire Service
Wilkin: "I'm happy where I am"
- New York
- Feast Fest defector Hillary Wilkin, current Head Chef of the event's main rival, the New York City Thanksgiving Contest, apparently told Competitive Cooking Magazine's Joel Brennan that she had no misgivings about leaving Feast Fest to head chef the nation's second most prominent cooking competition. Joel Brennan announced a snippet from his interview with Wilkin on Twitter Sunday:
"Wilkin: 'I'm happy where I am, I loved my time at Feast Fest but have no desire to leave the NYCTC. Feast Fest helped me get here.'"
- Joel Brennan (@ccmjoelbrennan) 21:07 UTC 12 October 2014
Wilkin left Feast Fest in 2013 after five years with the event after she was hired as the new Head Chef of the New York City Thanksgiving Contest.
FF Wire Service
McAllister on Shelstinnia: "She was limp ... she basically did nothing."
- Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister admitted Saturday to having had problems with FF chef Rina Shelstinnia, who will not be returning to Feast Fest.
In a interview with an issue of Competitive Cooking Magazine yet to be published, McAllister reportedly admitted that "we, the chef body, had numerous problems with Rina Shelstinnia and felt that she wouldn't be compatible with us for 2014, and some of us actually told that to the scouters when we heard they were about to make a decision on the level of energy they should invest in pursuing re-signing her. We said, 'Well, you know, if you sign her, it's not the end of the world, not like Stephen Dreim [a chef regarded as highly conceited who chefs wanted scouters not to try to lure back after he left in 2012], but she'll just sit in the back and not do much, not contribute.' We tried to tell them they'd be throwing their money away on her."
It's unlike McAllister to stir a controversy pot, especially now that he's one of the three Head Chefs. But McAllister seemed to know that that observation would be coming, adding in the interview: "People will say about what I've said regarding Rina, they'll say, 'Whoa, Jumping Jimmy? He never says anything negative about anyone, he never stirs controversy.' But I don't see it as controversy because the consensus among the chef body was a unanimous decision and that unanimous decision was that she wasn't a contributing factor in any of our efforts here at Feast Fest. She was limp, she was there, but she just hung around; she did basically nothing."
McAllister's comments came in an issue of CCM planned to be released in November, as part of a plethora of interviews of Feast Fest chefs.
Shelstinnia had no comment to McAllister's remarks.
FF Wire Service
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Aiber Wins Best Above-50
-New York
-Feast Fest chef Alexei Aiber has won the NCA's Best Above-50 Chef Award for 2014, the first active FFer to do so in the award's second year of existence.
Aiber received 1,764 votes to the 1,688 of former Feast Fest chef Marc Monde, who won the award last year. Monde, however, left Feast Fest in 2004.
Former FF chef Lindbergh Merrssff finished fifth, but is considered a better shot at the NCA's Above-70 award, which he won in 2013 and results for which will be released on Sunday night.
Aiber had not yet been notified of his award, but Monde congratulated Aiber: "As someone who won this award last year, I know that this is one of the widest fields of chefs for a single award in the NCA and that the selection process is very, very rigorous. I couldn't be more joyful for Alexei."
FF Wire Service
-Feast Fest chef Alexei Aiber has won the NCA's Best Above-50 Chef Award for 2014, the first active FFer to do so in the award's second year of existence.
Aiber received 1,764 votes to the 1,688 of former Feast Fest chef Marc Monde, who won the award last year. Monde, however, left Feast Fest in 2004.
Former FF chef Lindbergh Merrssff finished fifth, but is considered a better shot at the NCA's Above-70 award, which he won in 2013 and results for which will be released on Sunday night.
Aiber had not yet been notified of his award, but Monde congratulated Aiber: "As someone who won this award last year, I know that this is one of the widest fields of chefs for a single award in the NCA and that the selection process is very, very rigorous. I couldn't be more joyful for Alexei."
FF Wire Service
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Crellas Wins Most Diverse
-New York
-Laelech Crellas has won the NCA's 2014 Most Diverse award for he third straight year.
Reactions are pending.
If was the first night of the NCA's six week award period.
FF Wire Service
-Laelech Crellas has won the NCA's 2014 Most Diverse award for he third straight year.
Reactions are pending.
If was the first night of the NCA's six week award period.
FF Wire Service
Monday, October 6, 2014
Dall: "2015 is a better time to explore those options" for re-signing Rina Shelstinnia
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Up against the clock last week with the end of the scouting offseason approaching and with some scouters and chefs still voicing concerns and opposition, Head Scouter Jim Dall announced Monday that his team had broken off, but not officially closed, negotiations with intermittent two-time Feast Fest chef Rina Shelstinnia.
Shelstinnia, a Briton, only participated in 2 hours 15 minutes of floor action during her first Feast Fest in 2006, and only amassed six NCA points. Feast Fest and NCA rules require that a chef spend at least four and a half hours on the floor, or else the event can be docked points in its NCA rating. Feast Fest's 2006 score actually dipped by 0.2 because of Shelstinnia. Shelstinnia was promptly fired days later.
In 2012, Feast Fest re-negotiated with Shelstinnia and signed her on for a one-year deal. At Feast Fest XVIII, Shelstinnia accumulated 4:38 of floor time--the bare minimum--and stitched together a more respectable 24 points. Shelstinnia and Feast Fest broke down in renegotiation talks in 2013, but she left the door open for a possible 2014 return. In July, she came to the table with scouters to try to get her back in for this Thanksgiving.
But the two sides remained oceans apart on issues such as the length of the contract and the line of power Shelstinnia would be placed on. Also looking was growing dissension from chefs. Some said that even in her 2012 performance her heart and work ethic didn't seem to be in it. "She was taking it all in like she was on a red carpet, but the workmanship wasn't there, and that's what gets you good ratings," said an unidentified chef. "I don't know why you'd throw money away on her when you have equally talented chefs in the wings who will give you much, much more bang for your buck. Shelstinnia enjoyed the glamour. I know she's a good person at heart and never had any intentions of dragging us down. But she did."
Last week, Feast Fest announced they'd be taking a survey of chefs to determine how they'd feel about Shelstinnia returning, but time ran out with the end of the scouting offseason approaching.
Dall on Monday announced that negotiations would resume in 2015. "We still have many options left on the table for Ms. Shelstinnia... 2015 is a better time to explore those options."
Executive Assistant Marty Bergen added that "The Shelstinnia negotiation is ongoing but Ms. Shelstinnia will not be a member of Feast Fest for Thanksgiving 2014. We hope we can add her to the event in 2015. Her bungled performance of 2006 is far behind her, and she is ready and wants to contribute out on the floor in a meaningful fashion."
FF Wire Service
-Up against the clock last week with the end of the scouting offseason approaching and with some scouters and chefs still voicing concerns and opposition, Head Scouter Jim Dall announced Monday that his team had broken off, but not officially closed, negotiations with intermittent two-time Feast Fest chef Rina Shelstinnia.
Shelstinnia, a Briton, only participated in 2 hours 15 minutes of floor action during her first Feast Fest in 2006, and only amassed six NCA points. Feast Fest and NCA rules require that a chef spend at least four and a half hours on the floor, or else the event can be docked points in its NCA rating. Feast Fest's 2006 score actually dipped by 0.2 because of Shelstinnia. Shelstinnia was promptly fired days later.
In 2012, Feast Fest re-negotiated with Shelstinnia and signed her on for a one-year deal. At Feast Fest XVIII, Shelstinnia accumulated 4:38 of floor time--the bare minimum--and stitched together a more respectable 24 points. Shelstinnia and Feast Fest broke down in renegotiation talks in 2013, but she left the door open for a possible 2014 return. In July, she came to the table with scouters to try to get her back in for this Thanksgiving.
But the two sides remained oceans apart on issues such as the length of the contract and the line of power Shelstinnia would be placed on. Also looking was growing dissension from chefs. Some said that even in her 2012 performance her heart and work ethic didn't seem to be in it. "She was taking it all in like she was on a red carpet, but the workmanship wasn't there, and that's what gets you good ratings," said an unidentified chef. "I don't know why you'd throw money away on her when you have equally talented chefs in the wings who will give you much, much more bang for your buck. Shelstinnia enjoyed the glamour. I know she's a good person at heart and never had any intentions of dragging us down. But she did."
Last week, Feast Fest announced they'd be taking a survey of chefs to determine how they'd feel about Shelstinnia returning, but time ran out with the end of the scouting offseason approaching.
Dall on Monday announced that negotiations would resume in 2015. "We still have many options left on the table for Ms. Shelstinnia... 2015 is a better time to explore those options."
Executive Assistant Marty Bergen added that "The Shelstinnia negotiation is ongoing but Ms. Shelstinnia will not be a member of Feast Fest for Thanksgiving 2014. We hope we can add her to the event in 2015. Her bungled performance of 2006 is far behind her, and she is ready and wants to contribute out on the floor in a meaningful fashion."
FF Wire Service
2015 Exhibition Schedule Released
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Feast Fest Sunday released the 2015 exhibitional schedule, adding one exhibition next offseason to bring the total to nine. Lynn Avi, who gave up her exhibition in 2013 and 2014 to achieve an empty slot to accommodate the addition of a new exhibition in Switzerland, will get it back in 2015 as the added exhibition. The new schedule will also have be back-weighted, with a higher concentration of exhibitions in the fall months to prepare for Feast Fest in November.
Edelyn Cooking Arena will also host only one exhibition in 2015 instead of the usual two, and the open slot will be picked up by Feast Fest chef Jon Chu's Washington, D.C. eatery, Laoa.
Wed., Jan. 7 - The Dining Room, Yosemite National Park, CA
Fri., Apr. 17 - Notes, Long Beach, CA
Wed., Jul. 1 - Nø, Boston, MA
Sat., Sept. 5 - Kitchen Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Sat., Oct. 3 - Myskvåard Cooking Arena, Zurich, Switzerland
Sat., Oct. 17 - Laoa, Washington, D.C.
Sun., Oct. 25 - Edelyn Cooking Arena, Punta Gorda, FL
Tue., Nov. 3 - Windows on the Water, Morro Bay, CA
Tue., Nov. 10 - LaLa, Lower Manhattan, NY
FF Wire Service
-Feast Fest Sunday released the 2015 exhibitional schedule, adding one exhibition next offseason to bring the total to nine. Lynn Avi, who gave up her exhibition in 2013 and 2014 to achieve an empty slot to accommodate the addition of a new exhibition in Switzerland, will get it back in 2015 as the added exhibition. The new schedule will also have be back-weighted, with a higher concentration of exhibitions in the fall months to prepare for Feast Fest in November.
Edelyn Cooking Arena will also host only one exhibition in 2015 instead of the usual two, and the open slot will be picked up by Feast Fest chef Jon Chu's Washington, D.C. eatery, Laoa.
Wed., Jan. 7 - The Dining Room, Yosemite National Park, CA
Fri., Apr. 17 - Notes, Long Beach, CA
Wed., Jul. 1 - Nø, Boston, MA
Sat., Sept. 5 - Kitchen Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Sat., Oct. 3 - Myskvåard Cooking Arena, Zurich, Switzerland
Sat., Oct. 17 - Laoa, Washington, D.C.
Sun., Oct. 25 - Edelyn Cooking Arena, Punta Gorda, FL
Tue., Nov. 3 - Windows on the Water, Morro Bay, CA
Tue., Nov. 10 - LaLa, Lower Manhattan, NY
FF Wire Service
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Monde Confirms in Interview He Threw Up, Had Panic Attack in Hotel Room in 2011 Before First Exhibition
-New York
-Aleck Monde has confirmed in the November issue of Competitive Cooking Monthly that he did indeed have a panic attack and throw up late in the night in his Punta Gorda, Fla. hotel room on October 31, 2011, hours before his Feast Fest debut at the annual Edelyn Cooking Arena exhibition. Monde is the son of 1995-2004 Feast Fest fixture Marc Monde, and it was believed that the prospect of having to live up to expectations from other chefs that he would perform exactly like his father provoked the attack; the story went that he was heard mumbling, "They want me to be Dad. I can't do this."
Monde, now a fixture at the event, told Yvette Bridges of Competitive Cooking Monthly: "Rumors swirled that I'd had this massive panic attack, was running around the hotel room at two in the morning pacing and saying, 'I can't do this, I can't do this,' and I denied those rumors at the time because I wanted to seem strong and I didn't want to let anyone in on any vulnerabilities, but now that I know my place here and now that I'm accepted for who I am and not just because of who my father is, I feel I can disclose that those rumors were true. I did have a panic attack. I did throw up. I did pace around saying things to that effect. I suppose it woke up the person in the next room and they complained."
The occupant of the next room placed a call to the front desk about 2:45 a.m. Oct. 31, 2011, complaining that her neighbor was retching, pacing, and mumbling things to himself. The hotel maintained a record of the complaint. The guest apparently wondered if the hotel should call police or an ambulance. A hotel worker knocked on Monde's door at around 3:15 a.m. to find him lying in bed quietly, and Monde said he had had a panic attack but was feeling fine at that point, details Monde corroborated in the magazine interview. The worker asked if Monde wanted medical attention and Monde declined. Monde checked out of the hotel the next morning at 11 a.m., and there were no further reports of any incidents during Monde's stay.
"I didn't sleep at all that night, but after the manager came up and said someone complained, I just lay quietly," Monde said.
Monde admitted the incident was not unusual for him, saying he often has stomach issues when anxious.
Co-Head Chef Jim McAllister, who has thrown up a couple times prior to major competitions, came to Monde's defense, saying in response to the interview, "We go through a lot of stress, a lot of nerves. These things happen. We shouldn't be judged for them."
FF Wire Service
Yiivitimaev, Olschmeire Both Signed Before Friday Night Deadline
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Feast Fest announced at 11:30 p.m. Saturday that they had successfully signed Ondrej Yiivititimaev and Kevin Olschmeire for 2014 before Friday night's 11:59 p.m. deadline a day earlier.
The Scouting Department was following policy that states a 24 hour waiting period must elapse before a signing is publicly announced. Yiivititimaev was signed at 11:24 p.m. Friday, and Olschmeire was signed six minutes later. The signings were announced jointly as scouters had been working with both chefs late into Friday night to get deals worked out. The Scouting Offseason officially ended at 11:59 p.m. Friday night; Feast Fest still could've signed them afterward, but they wouldn't have been eligible to participate until November 2015.
Head Scouter Jim Dall called the dual signings "a fantastic note with which to end our ten months of arduous work."
Yiivititimaev and Olschmeire become the eighth and ninth chefs signed to Feast Fest this offseason. Four chefs left or resigned, making for a net gain of five chefs and a total roll call of 72 for Thanksgiving, the first time the event has cracked seventy chefs.
Olschmeire's signing was conducted "pleasantly," Dall said, with minimal arguments or rebuttals. Olschmeire signed a $196,045, two-year contract for the eighth line of power, staggered in 2015 for $199,874 and a potential promotion to the seventh line.
Yiivititimaev, the more prized of the two chefs, held out more along with his persistent agent. Negotiations nearly came to a halt over how to divide travel expenses, which will be heftier for the Russian-based Yiivititimaev than they are for most American chefs. Feast Fest insisted that Yiivititimaev's camp pay 45% of the travel expenses, instead of Yiivititimaev's proposed 40%, and the two sides compromised by giving Yiivititimaev a $482,000 contract, the highest amount Feast Fest was willing to fork over. The Russian will start out on the fifth line of power and is signed on a two-year deal through Feast Fest 2015. He will receive anywhere from $482,000 to $496,000 in 2015; those details will be sorted out, and the travel expenses revisited, in December. "This was about getting Ondrej signed for this November, and we have that done now. He's happy, we're happy," Dall said. "We have both agreed to return to the little details after Thanksgiving and to fine-tune this contract in a way that will make him eligible for many future years here."
Both Yiivititimaev and Olschmeire were declared rostered and eligible for the Oct. 26 cooking exhibition in Punta Gorda, Fla.
-Feast Fest announced at 11:30 p.m. Saturday that they had successfully signed Ondrej Yiivititimaev and Kevin Olschmeire for 2014 before Friday night's 11:59 p.m. deadline a day earlier.
The Scouting Department was following policy that states a 24 hour waiting period must elapse before a signing is publicly announced. Yiivititimaev was signed at 11:24 p.m. Friday, and Olschmeire was signed six minutes later. The signings were announced jointly as scouters had been working with both chefs late into Friday night to get deals worked out. The Scouting Offseason officially ended at 11:59 p.m. Friday night; Feast Fest still could've signed them afterward, but they wouldn't have been eligible to participate until November 2015.
Head Scouter Jim Dall called the dual signings "a fantastic note with which to end our ten months of arduous work."
Yiivititimaev and Olschmeire become the eighth and ninth chefs signed to Feast Fest this offseason. Four chefs left or resigned, making for a net gain of five chefs and a total roll call of 72 for Thanksgiving, the first time the event has cracked seventy chefs.
Olschmeire's signing was conducted "pleasantly," Dall said, with minimal arguments or rebuttals. Olschmeire signed a $196,045, two-year contract for the eighth line of power, staggered in 2015 for $199,874 and a potential promotion to the seventh line.
Yiivititimaev, the more prized of the two chefs, held out more along with his persistent agent. Negotiations nearly came to a halt over how to divide travel expenses, which will be heftier for the Russian-based Yiivititimaev than they are for most American chefs. Feast Fest insisted that Yiivititimaev's camp pay 45% of the travel expenses, instead of Yiivititimaev's proposed 40%, and the two sides compromised by giving Yiivititimaev a $482,000 contract, the highest amount Feast Fest was willing to fork over. The Russian will start out on the fifth line of power and is signed on a two-year deal through Feast Fest 2015. He will receive anywhere from $482,000 to $496,000 in 2015; those details will be sorted out, and the travel expenses revisited, in December. "This was about getting Ondrej signed for this November, and we have that done now. He's happy, we're happy," Dall said. "We have both agreed to return to the little details after Thanksgiving and to fine-tune this contract in a way that will make him eligible for many future years here."
Both Yiivititimaev and Olschmeire were declared rostered and eligible for the Oct. 26 cooking exhibition in Punta Gorda, Fla.
Friday, October 3, 2014
EXPERT'S EDITORIAL: YIIVITITIMAEV NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY -- WHAT HE BRINGS TO FEAST FEST, AND HIS PRICE
Expert Analyst MIKE VILSHIRE
from Marina del Rey, Calif.
- If Feast Fest scouters can sign him successfully before 11:59 p.m. PDT tonight, Ondrej Yiivititimaev will become the finishing touch of a monstrous launch into the Russian culinary scene this offseason, one in which scouters signed two other Russian chefs, Konstaatyn Medvalaev and Katerina Ymykaterina, and negotiated massive extensions for existing Russian or Russian-American chefs Petr Jones (7 years, $521,881 staggered to $610,038), Andri Jones (5 years, $477,809 staggered to $549,626), and Alexei Aiber (4 years, $731,880 staggered to $777,571). So it's clear that Feast Fest has made a long-lasting commitment to Russian chefs, one that will likely continue in the coming years. But what's the reason for the pivot to Moscow? Two words: work ethic. In recent times where many hardworking chefs have ended their careers graciously, when some younger, newer chefs have been perceived as lazy, and when exhibition scores have dropped (and it's something of a small miracle that actual Thanksgiving Day scores haven't dropped off by more than a percentage point too), the strict work ethic that is instilled into Russian chefs when they train has become increasingly attractive to Feast Fest scouters. A similar case can be made for French chefs, who are known for their diligence and often considered the finest chefs in the world. It didn't happen this year, but now that Feast Fest has invaded Russia this offseason, look for them to take increased ganders at French chefs in the coming years. It's all a part of Feast Fest's general plans for international expansion, especially into Europe, where competitive cooking has more popularity than in the U.S.
Yiivititimaev is a dream signing for Feast Fest, with a sterling resume: graduated from Cordon Bleu Schools 2010; appointed in 2012 to Head Chef of Yellow Room, one of Moscow's top restaurants; gained NCA membership in 2010 during his time in New York and podiumed (top 5) in NCA's Best Russian Award four times; ranked fifth in NCA's All-Around Best European in 2013, behind several other prominent Feast Fest chefs; trained with breakout young Feast Fest chef Andri Jones and has also had extensive relations with his brother, Feast Fest fixture Petr.
Yiivititimaev and his agent have agreed to a core, nonstaggered deal of 3 years, with somewhere between $475,000 and $482,000 (the exact amount needs to be determined tonight). More pressing about today and tonight's negotiations are bread and butter issues that include:
- Travel expenses: This has often been an area of contention between Feast Fest and chefs it signs from overseas. Jet fuel costs alone could reach an estimated $124,561 a year for as many as twenty yearly transatlantic flights. Andri Jones, who still lives in Russia, worked out a 65%-35% deal over travel expenses, with Feast Fest paying 65%, and Jawrodly Jurrjens of Amsterdam currently pays 30% of travel expenses to Feast Fest's 70%. But Feast Fest is giving more money to Yiivititimaev than they did to Jones or Jurrjens when they first signed, so Feast Fest scouters may want Yiivititimaev's camp to chip in more, closer to a 55%-45% deal. Alternatively, Feast Fest could give Yiivititimaev a salary lower on the $475K-$482K spectrum and use the savings to pay for more of the travel expenses and work out a 60%-40% arrangement. Feast Fest would be willing to do either, as long as they don't have to pay more money than they've already pledged they would. So the travel expenses maelstrom is in Yiivititimaev's hands: it'll come down to whether he wants to receive less money or spend more, even though his net income would be pretty much the same for either option. To get in Feast Fest's good graces, it'd probably be best to agree to 55%-45%. He should really only fight against that division if FF wants to give him something on the low end of his already agreed range, in which case he should argue for 60%-40%. Both sides are in this to make a profit.
- Healthcare: Feast Fest's international healthcare policy for chefs states that they must maintain healthcare within their country of residence. In other words, Feast Fest is willing to pay for healthcare costs if they come under the often-shoddy Russian system. If he comes to America for Feast Fest related events on a frequent basis, he may wish to pursue dual citizenship and then purchase American healthcare, which FF wouldn't be as willing to pay for. But that's a long term issue: tonight means sorting out the provider and rudimentary issues such as costs.
- Line of power: Yiivititimaev and Feast Fest will probably be in agreement on a fifth line spot, but his agent, who's not quite as humble as he, might try to jockey for a fourth line spot. Granted, if Yiivititimaev could be made into a fourth line spot under fifth line money, it would be good value for Feast Fest, but the likelihood that Yiivititimaev would be declared ready for the fourth line of power, which includes such powerhouses as Lisa Choi, Peter Dumas, Aleck Monde, and Jacqueline Pierce-Mulleone, is low. He has star potential for the future, but should get his feet wet at the fifth line of power (where he'd work among highly competent and talented chefs including Kevin Bough Mothily, Keith Wholehreh, Lakeland Donavert, and fellow countryman Alexei Aiber) before moving up.
FF Wire Service
from Marina del Rey, Calif.
- If Feast Fest scouters can sign him successfully before 11:59 p.m. PDT tonight, Ondrej Yiivititimaev will become the finishing touch of a monstrous launch into the Russian culinary scene this offseason, one in which scouters signed two other Russian chefs, Konstaatyn Medvalaev and Katerina Ymykaterina, and negotiated massive extensions for existing Russian or Russian-American chefs Petr Jones (7 years, $521,881 staggered to $610,038), Andri Jones (5 years, $477,809 staggered to $549,626), and Alexei Aiber (4 years, $731,880 staggered to $777,571). So it's clear that Feast Fest has made a long-lasting commitment to Russian chefs, one that will likely continue in the coming years. But what's the reason for the pivot to Moscow? Two words: work ethic. In recent times where many hardworking chefs have ended their careers graciously, when some younger, newer chefs have been perceived as lazy, and when exhibition scores have dropped (and it's something of a small miracle that actual Thanksgiving Day scores haven't dropped off by more than a percentage point too), the strict work ethic that is instilled into Russian chefs when they train has become increasingly attractive to Feast Fest scouters. A similar case can be made for French chefs, who are known for their diligence and often considered the finest chefs in the world. It didn't happen this year, but now that Feast Fest has invaded Russia this offseason, look for them to take increased ganders at French chefs in the coming years. It's all a part of Feast Fest's general plans for international expansion, especially into Europe, where competitive cooking has more popularity than in the U.S.
Yiivititimaev is a dream signing for Feast Fest, with a sterling resume: graduated from Cordon Bleu Schools 2010; appointed in 2012 to Head Chef of Yellow Room, one of Moscow's top restaurants; gained NCA membership in 2010 during his time in New York and podiumed (top 5) in NCA's Best Russian Award four times; ranked fifth in NCA's All-Around Best European in 2013, behind several other prominent Feast Fest chefs; trained with breakout young Feast Fest chef Andri Jones and has also had extensive relations with his brother, Feast Fest fixture Petr.
Yiivititimaev and his agent have agreed to a core, nonstaggered deal of 3 years, with somewhere between $475,000 and $482,000 (the exact amount needs to be determined tonight). More pressing about today and tonight's negotiations are bread and butter issues that include:
- Travel expenses: This has often been an area of contention between Feast Fest and chefs it signs from overseas. Jet fuel costs alone could reach an estimated $124,561 a year for as many as twenty yearly transatlantic flights. Andri Jones, who still lives in Russia, worked out a 65%-35% deal over travel expenses, with Feast Fest paying 65%, and Jawrodly Jurrjens of Amsterdam currently pays 30% of travel expenses to Feast Fest's 70%. But Feast Fest is giving more money to Yiivititimaev than they did to Jones or Jurrjens when they first signed, so Feast Fest scouters may want Yiivititimaev's camp to chip in more, closer to a 55%-45% deal. Alternatively, Feast Fest could give Yiivititimaev a salary lower on the $475K-$482K spectrum and use the savings to pay for more of the travel expenses and work out a 60%-40% arrangement. Feast Fest would be willing to do either, as long as they don't have to pay more money than they've already pledged they would. So the travel expenses maelstrom is in Yiivititimaev's hands: it'll come down to whether he wants to receive less money or spend more, even though his net income would be pretty much the same for either option. To get in Feast Fest's good graces, it'd probably be best to agree to 55%-45%. He should really only fight against that division if FF wants to give him something on the low end of his already agreed range, in which case he should argue for 60%-40%. Both sides are in this to make a profit.
- Healthcare: Feast Fest's international healthcare policy for chefs states that they must maintain healthcare within their country of residence. In other words, Feast Fest is willing to pay for healthcare costs if they come under the often-shoddy Russian system. If he comes to America for Feast Fest related events on a frequent basis, he may wish to pursue dual citizenship and then purchase American healthcare, which FF wouldn't be as willing to pay for. But that's a long term issue: tonight means sorting out the provider and rudimentary issues such as costs.
- Line of power: Yiivititimaev and Feast Fest will probably be in agreement on a fifth line spot, but his agent, who's not quite as humble as he, might try to jockey for a fourth line spot. Granted, if Yiivititimaev could be made into a fourth line spot under fifth line money, it would be good value for Feast Fest, but the likelihood that Yiivititimaev would be declared ready for the fourth line of power, which includes such powerhouses as Lisa Choi, Peter Dumas, Aleck Monde, and Jacqueline Pierce-Mulleone, is low. He has star potential for the future, but should get his feet wet at the fifth line of power (where he'd work among highly competent and talented chefs including Kevin Bough Mothily, Keith Wholehreh, Lakeland Donavert, and fellow countryman Alexei Aiber) before moving up.
FF Wire Service
Yiivititimaev, Olschmeire Hoped to Be Signed Before End of Scouting Offseason Tonight
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Just a little over eleven hours remain before the Feast Fest Scouting Offseason officially ends, and that means only eleven hours remain to successfully sign Ondrej Yiivititimaev and Kevin Olschmeire for this Thanksgiving.
The Russian wunderkind, 29, and all-American chef, 34, will be the eighth and ninth chefs added this offseason if both can be signed before 11:59 p.m. PDT. Yiivititimaev is one of Russia's most promising young chefs, and has trained extensively with Feast Fest chef Andri Jones, a fellow Russian. If Yiivititimaev is signed, he'll be the third Russian chef added this offseason, following Konstaatyn Medvalaev and Katerina Ymykaterina. Milwaukee-based Olschmiere has connections with Feast Fest chef Keith Wholehreh and former Feast Fest chef Jane Jockell.
Both chefs were late discoveries this offseason; neither were presented offers until late August, and the signing process usually takes about four to seven weeks, which is why scouters are up against the clock today on the final day of the scouting offseason. After today, scouters can continue working to sign returning chefs and chefs for 2015, but not new chefs for 2014. The negotiations process could technically continue after today, but if so the two chefs wouldn't be allowed to participate until Feast Fest 2015.
"These are two prime additions to our arsenal that we want to be able to utilize this November," Dall said. "We want to sign them tonight."
Both Yiivititimaev and Olschmiere have agreed to core contracts. But with many meat-and-potatoes issues such as travel expenses, health benefits, and other utilities still in the air for both, negotiations could go late into the evening tonight before deals are announced. Yiivititimaev has remained in Russia today, but his agent has traveled to Marina del Rey; both Olschmeire and his agent have made the trip to Southern California.
FF Wire Service
-Just a little over eleven hours remain before the Feast Fest Scouting Offseason officially ends, and that means only eleven hours remain to successfully sign Ondrej Yiivititimaev and Kevin Olschmeire for this Thanksgiving.
The Russian wunderkind, 29, and all-American chef, 34, will be the eighth and ninth chefs added this offseason if both can be signed before 11:59 p.m. PDT. Yiivititimaev is one of Russia's most promising young chefs, and has trained extensively with Feast Fest chef Andri Jones, a fellow Russian. If Yiivititimaev is signed, he'll be the third Russian chef added this offseason, following Konstaatyn Medvalaev and Katerina Ymykaterina. Milwaukee-based Olschmiere has connections with Feast Fest chef Keith Wholehreh and former Feast Fest chef Jane Jockell.
Both chefs were late discoveries this offseason; neither were presented offers until late August, and the signing process usually takes about four to seven weeks, which is why scouters are up against the clock today on the final day of the scouting offseason. After today, scouters can continue working to sign returning chefs and chefs for 2015, but not new chefs for 2014. The negotiations process could technically continue after today, but if so the two chefs wouldn't be allowed to participate until Feast Fest 2015.
"These are two prime additions to our arsenal that we want to be able to utilize this November," Dall said. "We want to sign them tonight."
Both Yiivititimaev and Olschmiere have agreed to core contracts. But with many meat-and-potatoes issues such as travel expenses, health benefits, and other utilities still in the air for both, negotiations could go late into the evening tonight before deals are announced. Yiivititimaev has remained in Russia today, but his agent has traveled to Marina del Rey; both Olschmeire and his agent have made the trip to Southern California.
FF Wire Service
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Feast Fest Snaps Up Arencía In Effort to Recoup Latin Flair After Loss of Jámes
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-On the second-to-last day of the scouting offseason, Feast Fest scouters have officially signed Mexico City-based chef Pablo Arencía in an effort to regain critical Latin appeal lost with the departure of Jarolde Jámes in April.
Latin America is one of the most underrepresented areas of the globe at Feast Fest, and with people of Latin American descent a critical demographic, Jámes quickly became a star figure at Feast Fest who brought more people of Latin American descent to Feast Fest in 2012 and 2013 than ever before.
But Jámes and scouters butted heads during contractual negotiations this offseason. Jámes wanted a $525,000 per year, three-year deal, but scouters instead pushed for a $446,000 per year, four-year deal. Jámes eventually got his requested offer down to $500,000, but FF refused to budge, and after months of strained talks, Jámes announced Apr. 22 he wouldn't be returning.
Scouters began looking at Arencía in May, and quickly found him a viable candidate. He was brought to Marina del Rey last month for preliminary negotiations, and confirmed via email Thursday that he had accepted a $227,304 offer for two years.
"Tell the media I'm thrilled," he wrote to scouters at the end of the missive.
Arencía will travel to Marina del Rey for a new chefs introductory press conference scheduled for next week.
FF Wire Service
-On the second-to-last day of the scouting offseason, Feast Fest scouters have officially signed Mexico City-based chef Pablo Arencía in an effort to regain critical Latin appeal lost with the departure of Jarolde Jámes in April.
Latin America is one of the most underrepresented areas of the globe at Feast Fest, and with people of Latin American descent a critical demographic, Jámes quickly became a star figure at Feast Fest who brought more people of Latin American descent to Feast Fest in 2012 and 2013 than ever before.
But Jámes and scouters butted heads during contractual negotiations this offseason. Jámes wanted a $525,000 per year, three-year deal, but scouters instead pushed for a $446,000 per year, four-year deal. Jámes eventually got his requested offer down to $500,000, but FF refused to budge, and after months of strained talks, Jámes announced Apr. 22 he wouldn't be returning.
Scouters began looking at Arencía in May, and quickly found him a viable candidate. He was brought to Marina del Rey last month for preliminary negotiations, and confirmed via email Thursday that he had accepted a $227,304 offer for two years.
"Tell the media I'm thrilled," he wrote to scouters at the end of the missive.
Arencía will travel to Marina del Rey for a new chefs introductory press conference scheduled for next week.
FF Wire Service
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Ruscoso to Make Turkey Tetrazzini
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Italian-specialist Vermont-based chef Tony Ruscoso was given the green light by the NCA on Wednesday to prepare his signature turkey tetrazzini this November during Feast Fest, as an exhibitional, non-scored dish that will be available to revelers to sample but otherwise be uninvolved in the event's performance.
It becomes the third time a chef has had their own unique dish approved by the NCA to be prepared in a non-scoring role. Lisa Choi will prepare her famous "pumpkins flambé" at Feast Fest for the first time this Thanksgiving, and Parker Payton has prepared caramelized mashed potatoes as a non-scored dish for years.
"We're trying to allow Feast Fest chefs to present more of their personal flair to the masses through their own unique dishes," said an official familiar with the situation.
Feast Fest scored foods--turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie, and appetizers, among others--follow rigid, strict recipes and allow for little experimentation or personal touches by the individual chefs.
FF Wire Service
-Italian-specialist Vermont-based chef Tony Ruscoso was given the green light by the NCA on Wednesday to prepare his signature turkey tetrazzini this November during Feast Fest, as an exhibitional, non-scored dish that will be available to revelers to sample but otherwise be uninvolved in the event's performance.
It becomes the third time a chef has had their own unique dish approved by the NCA to be prepared in a non-scoring role. Lisa Choi will prepare her famous "pumpkins flambé" at Feast Fest for the first time this Thanksgiving, and Parker Payton has prepared caramelized mashed potatoes as a non-scored dish for years.
"We're trying to allow Feast Fest chefs to present more of their personal flair to the masses through their own unique dishes," said an official familiar with the situation.
Feast Fest scored foods--turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie, and appetizers, among others--follow rigid, strict recipes and allow for little experimentation or personal touches by the individual chefs.
FF Wire Service
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Feast Fest Will Pay For Medvalaev Translator
-St. Petersburg, Russia
-Feast Fest will pick up the tab for a translator for the event's first ever non-English speaking chef following a lengthy dispute, it was determined Tuesday.
The $14,208 may seem like chump change to both Feast Fest and the chef, Konstaatyn Medvalaev, who signed a surprisingly high $634,142 entry-level deal in June. Medvalaev head chefs the most prominent five star restaurant in St. Petersburg, and was a highly sought addition. "Konstaatyn will be a great add-on that will help us get that much closer to the 100 NCA score that eludes us," Head Scouter Jim Dall said at the time.
But a controversy quickly arose over who would pay for a translator to come to Feast Fest as well as exhibitions, the first of which Medvalaev will appear at in October. Plans to have him appear at the Kitchen Stadium exhibition Sept. 5 in Tokyo were stymied by the dispute.
Although Feast Fest recruits culinary talent from throughout the world, and though Medvalaev is the event's 22nd European chef, he's the first to have not at least a rudimentary knowledge of English. It's expected he should pick up the language after a couple years with the event (he signed his deal through 2017), but it became clear during negotiations that he would need a translator in order to perform accurately on the floor. The same translator who helped him through the negotiating process has agreed to accompany Medvalaev to Feast Fest, but announced a $14,208 price tag that Medvalaev's camp refused to pay. Medvalaev's agent pointed to a part of his contract that stated that Feast Fest would be responsible for providing "rudimentary services" that include room, board, medical care, and other travel expenses, but it had to go to the Executive Board to determine whether a translator fell under the umbrella of "rudimentary services."
The Executive Board then voted 6-4 Tuesday that "rudimentary services" included basic translation, and ordered monetary officials and record keepers to list the $14,208 as a Feast Fest expense for 2014.
Analyst Mike Vilshire said, although neither the Executive Board nor Medvalaev would confirm, that Medvalaev's camp was prepared to take legal action over the funds. "They didn't want to get dragged into court and risk alienating their prized offseason acquisition less than two months before the big day, so they said, 'Aw, heck with it, let's just pay it for now.'" But, Vilshire said, "I think they're paying it graciously to placate Medvalaev. I think this issue will come up again, in greater ferocity, next offseason."
FF Wire Service
-Feast Fest will pick up the tab for a translator for the event's first ever non-English speaking chef following a lengthy dispute, it was determined Tuesday.
The $14,208 may seem like chump change to both Feast Fest and the chef, Konstaatyn Medvalaev, who signed a surprisingly high $634,142 entry-level deal in June. Medvalaev head chefs the most prominent five star restaurant in St. Petersburg, and was a highly sought addition. "Konstaatyn will be a great add-on that will help us get that much closer to the 100 NCA score that eludes us," Head Scouter Jim Dall said at the time.
But a controversy quickly arose over who would pay for a translator to come to Feast Fest as well as exhibitions, the first of which Medvalaev will appear at in October. Plans to have him appear at the Kitchen Stadium exhibition Sept. 5 in Tokyo were stymied by the dispute.
Although Feast Fest recruits culinary talent from throughout the world, and though Medvalaev is the event's 22nd European chef, he's the first to have not at least a rudimentary knowledge of English. It's expected he should pick up the language after a couple years with the event (he signed his deal through 2017), but it became clear during negotiations that he would need a translator in order to perform accurately on the floor. The same translator who helped him through the negotiating process has agreed to accompany Medvalaev to Feast Fest, but announced a $14,208 price tag that Medvalaev's camp refused to pay. Medvalaev's agent pointed to a part of his contract that stated that Feast Fest would be responsible for providing "rudimentary services" that include room, board, medical care, and other travel expenses, but it had to go to the Executive Board to determine whether a translator fell under the umbrella of "rudimentary services."
The Executive Board then voted 6-4 Tuesday that "rudimentary services" included basic translation, and ordered monetary officials and record keepers to list the $14,208 as a Feast Fest expense for 2014.
Analyst Mike Vilshire said, although neither the Executive Board nor Medvalaev would confirm, that Medvalaev's camp was prepared to take legal action over the funds. "They didn't want to get dragged into court and risk alienating their prized offseason acquisition less than two months before the big day, so they said, 'Aw, heck with it, let's just pay it for now.'" But, Vilshire said, "I think they're paying it graciously to placate Medvalaev. I think this issue will come up again, in greater ferocity, next offseason."
FF Wire Service
McNeese negotiations continue
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Feast Fest scouters are in the process of negotiating a contract extension for Adam McNeese, who joined last year from the New York City Thanksgiving Contest (NYCTC). The Camden, Me.-based chef and his agent have agreed to a two-year extension with a $156,091 payout for Feast Fest 2014, but are at a point of contention over the salary for Feast Fest 2015. McNeese (6/25/86) wants a staggered deal with somewhere between $165,000 and $170,000 in 2015, but scouters want to give him the same $156,091 he'd receive this November.
One cause of the strife is an opt-out option McNeese has requested on his contract. "If he could assure us his presence in 2015, then we'd be more receptive to the idea of a staggered deal," said a scouter who was asked not to be identified because the negotiations are supposed to be closed-door.
The scouter said that his team would meet with McNeese further on Wednesday. The scouting offseason officially ends Friday, but Head Scouter Jim Dall said that McNeese negotiations would be allowed to continue into next week "if the need arises."
"Our hope is that we get a deal in the coming days," he added.
McNeese's agent said that McNeese is "totally committed to signing a contract as swiftly and as painlessly as possible and he is making a concerted effort to be receptive to all offers."
FF Wire Service
-Feast Fest scouters are in the process of negotiating a contract extension for Adam McNeese, who joined last year from the New York City Thanksgiving Contest (NYCTC). The Camden, Me.-based chef and his agent have agreed to a two-year extension with a $156,091 payout for Feast Fest 2014, but are at a point of contention over the salary for Feast Fest 2015. McNeese (6/25/86) wants a staggered deal with somewhere between $165,000 and $170,000 in 2015, but scouters want to give him the same $156,091 he'd receive this November.
One cause of the strife is an opt-out option McNeese has requested on his contract. "If he could assure us his presence in 2015, then we'd be more receptive to the idea of a staggered deal," said a scouter who was asked not to be identified because the negotiations are supposed to be closed-door.
The scouter said that his team would meet with McNeese further on Wednesday. The scouting offseason officially ends Friday, but Head Scouter Jim Dall said that McNeese negotiations would be allowed to continue into next week "if the need arises."
"Our hope is that we get a deal in the coming days," he added.
McNeese's agent said that McNeese is "totally committed to signing a contract as swiftly and as painlessly as possible and he is making a concerted effort to be receptive to all offers."
FF Wire Service
Feast Fest Wants to "Feel Out Atmosphere" for Shelstinnia Before Signing
-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Feast Fest officials on the Executive Board, Organization Senate, and in other high ranking positions are urging the Scouting Department to hold their horses on a one-year, $510,081 offer for Rina Shelstinnia, which Shelstinnia was rumored to be willing to accept Tuesday.
Executive Assistant Martin Berger said Feast Fest wanted to "feel out [the] atmosphere" among chefs before giving scouters the go-ahead to sign the British maven, who would be signing with Feast Fest for the third time following separate stints in 2006 and 2012 that were rocked by controversy.
Shelstinnia was fired after a 2006 performance in which she only spent 2:16 on the kitchen floor, well below the minimum requirement of 4 hours 30 minutes. Shelstinnia only earned 6 NCA points that year. In 2012, Shelstinnia returned for a 24-point performance and spent 4:37 on the floor, but was still perceived poorly by fellow chefs. Peter Dumas said she was lazy and had to be dragged onto the floor to begin preparations. "She's talented," Dumas said. "But she has a terrible work ethic. I think other chefs will be apprehensive about rehiring her yet again. Enough heads rolled when she rejoined in 2012."
FF Wire Service
-Feast Fest officials on the Executive Board, Organization Senate, and in other high ranking positions are urging the Scouting Department to hold their horses on a one-year, $510,081 offer for Rina Shelstinnia, which Shelstinnia was rumored to be willing to accept Tuesday.
Executive Assistant Martin Berger said Feast Fest wanted to "feel out [the] atmosphere" among chefs before giving scouters the go-ahead to sign the British maven, who would be signing with Feast Fest for the third time following separate stints in 2006 and 2012 that were rocked by controversy.
Shelstinnia was fired after a 2006 performance in which she only spent 2:16 on the kitchen floor, well below the minimum requirement of 4 hours 30 minutes. Shelstinnia only earned 6 NCA points that year. In 2012, Shelstinnia returned for a 24-point performance and spent 4:37 on the floor, but was still perceived poorly by fellow chefs. Peter Dumas said she was lazy and had to be dragged onto the floor to begin preparations. "She's talented," Dumas said. "But she has a terrible work ethic. I think other chefs will be apprehensive about rehiring her yet again. Enough heads rolled when she rejoined in 2012."
FF Wire Service
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