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

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