Flavors of the Northwest hits the spot

POLSON — Things were really cooking at KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino this past weekend at the first Flavors of the Northwest Cooking Competition. 

The competition featured four three-person teams competing in three courses: starters, main and finishing up with a Flathead cherry dessert.

The event was judged by celebrity guest chef Joey Campanaro of “The Little Owl” restaurant in New York. Campanaro has been featured on the Food Network, Iron Chef, Martha Stewart, and the Today Show just to name a few. He was joined by Polson Chamber of Commerce president Heather Knutson and Jennifer Brown from Kicking Horse Job Corps.

The teams were led by chefs Ben Jones of Blue Canyon in Missoula, Andy Blanton of Café Kandahar in Whitefish, Mike Slabaugh of Nickel Charlie’s in Kalispell and Nathan Ricciardi of Ricciardi’s on Main in Polson. Contestants were judged on a point system rating scope, flavor, uniqueness and overall presentation.

“It was not evident who was going to win,” Knutson said about the decision - making process, “it was like comparing apples to oranges.”

Chef Ben Jones of Blue Canyon Kitchen and Tavern in Missoula won the night with a starter made up of Thai Julian salad and foie gras, a main course of seared duck and a dessert of Tempura Flathead cherries.

The other contestants prepared quite tempting feasts as well. Chef Mike Slabaugh, “only knew a day in advance,” about the competition, but was a worthy competitor, using only local ingredients.

The Nickel Charlie’s team prepared a main dish of mountain-style rib-eye seared with whiskey, and stuffed with mushrooms, salsa and fried beets all from local farms. This was one of the dishes Knutson found most memorable, along with the dessert, caramel spiced sponge cake, with apples and pears, “one bite was completely heaven,” Knutson said. 

Knutson was also a fan of Ricciardi’s fried Idaho potatoes: “The way they curled over, it was just all so good!” Knutson concluded. Ricciardi prepared a tenderloin for the main course and a Flathead cherry-strawberry Romanoff for dessert.

KwaTaqNuk Banquet Coordinator Ashlee Cheff said that the evening was a success and that they are hoping to make the competition an annual event.