November 9, 2006

Park Place Chef Andrew Ungs Takes First Place and People’s Choice Award

at IRA Culinary Competition

Cedar Falls – Chef Andrew Ungs, Sous Chef at Park Place Event Centre and Ferrari’s Ristorante in Cedar Falls, won First Place in the 2006 Iowa Restaurant Association (IRA) statewide culinary competition. Only the best of the best chefs from around the state were invited to participate in the prestigious competition. In addition to winning First Place and a grand prize of $1,000.00, Ungs also swept the People’s Choice Award. The competition was sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and held in conjunction with the IRA’s Awarding Excellence Program on Sunday, November, 5, 2006, at the West Des Moines Marriott Hotel. Celebrity judges included Chairman of the National Restaurant Association (NRA), Ed Tinsley.

Ungs created Sesame Ginger Glazed and Braised Beef Short Ribs for the contest, which required contestants to create a recipe using beef short ribs. The dish was roasted, braised, glazed and roasted again, and served with Wasabi Whipped Potatoes and Ginger Carrots.

“When I created the recipe, I was trying to keep it clean and simple,” Ungs says. “People used to make short ribs with carrots. I wanted to make it old-school, but I tried to give it a new twist.”

Judging was completely blind, meaning that judges had no idea which chef prepared which dish, and was based on appearance, taste, tenderness and texture, and overall creativity and practicality. Approximately 300 attendees of the IRA’s Awarding Excellence dinner were also given the opportunity to sample each chef’s entry and vote for their favorite dish, which is how Ungs won the People’s Choice Award.

The competition has been going on since the late ’90s and has become very popular, says May Schaben, Vice President of Education for the Iowa Restaurant Association. “It’s a great venue for chefs from across the state to showcase their culinary talents and creativity. The chefs here are the best of the best in the state.”

Ungs is a graduate of the culinary school at Art Institute International in Minneapolis. While he competed as a student and has assisted other chefs in competition, this was his first time competing on the professional level. The 23-year-old’s win may have surprised the judges, but those who work with him know to expect only the best from Ungs.

Darin Beck, Chairman of the Iowa Restaurant Association, and owner of Park Place and Ferrari’s, had this to say: “I must admit, it was a very proud moment for me to watch one of my own guys sweep the competition. I have attended the event every year for eight years and have watched some incredible chefs win the competition. Andrew really worked hard knowing he was going in as the underdog. Most of the other chefs have competed in the same competition before. He truly made the Beef Industry Council and Barmuda proud this past weekend!”

Judges and IRA staff were impressed with Ungs as well. “For Andrew to come in first place in his first competition, and a competition at this level, is something that he should be very proud of,” says Schaben.

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