Oh, to relive those carefree youth days of summer camp: The friendships, the bonfires, the bucolic setting, but surely not the cafeteria-esque bland food, right?
Leave it to the young professionals that champion Camp For All to organize a soiree of adventurous cuisine that added much sophistication to typical camp fare. "Culinary Camp Challenge," chaired by Jessica Nimon and Sarah Mullins, transformed Winter Street Studios into a casual mess hall in which eight local chefs fixed their own versions of mac 'n' cheese and s'mores.
It was up to guest campers to vote for their favorite and an expert panel of judges that included CultureMap gourmand authority Eric Sandler, food writer Kathi Mosbacher Wheeler and Camp For All staffer Ben McCullough to weigh in.
Bobby Jucker's winning recipe consisted of a crumbly chocolate cake, iced with marshmallow buttercream and topped with a chocolate covered graham cracker.
After much cheese, chocolate and graham crackers were consumed, the wild boar chili mac 'n' cheese served classic Texas style in a Fritos bag from Haven chef Randy Evans ruled the day. Brennan's chef Danny Trace turned heads with his oysters Rockefeller mac 'n' cheese and Artisans chef Jacques Fox enticed with an unlikely pairing of salmon and gooey goodness. Bacon and ham lovers swooned over Hilary Purcell Catering Co.'s rich blend of meat and melted yumminess.
As for the sweets, those who had room in their tummies had trouble finishing the Texas-sized s'mores cupcakes from Three Brothers Bakery. Bobby Jucker's winning recipe consisted of a crumbly chocolate cake, iced with marshmallow buttercream and topped with a chocolate covered graham cracker.
Not far behind were RDG + Bar Annie chef Elliot Kelly for his elegant s'mores parfait, Le Mistral chef David Denis for his alluring s'mores mille-feuille and Cove Cold Bar chef Jean-Philippe Gaston's warm concoction assembled onsite.
In a food coma after raising $30,000 were Katie and Whitney Mears, Jamie and Nolan Moulle, Taylor McDaniel, Way Denkler, Jordan Kerensky, Jaclyn Popeil, Liz and Robert Rigney, Brittany and Zach Powell, Courtney and Joe Peterka, Jason Bernhardt, Justin Whitley, Brett Berly and Kellen Scott.
Ben McCullough, from left, Sarah Mullins, Bobby Jucker with his team and Jessica Nimon at the Camp for All Culinary Challenge.
