News Release
July 24, 2009
Concord wins Mayors' Healthy Meal Cook-off
A crowd of several thousand people were in Todos Santos Plaza on Thursday evening, July 23, for the first annual Mayors' Healthy Meal Cook-off, held in conjunction with the weekly Music and Market event.
Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister and Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder challenged mayors from all over Contra Costa County to help promote healthy eating, local restaurants and local farmers' markets by participating in the cook-off.
Eight mayors participated in the "Iron Chef" inspired event, with first place going to the City of Concord, second place to the City of Clayton and third place to the City of Walnut Creek.
Participating mayors and chefs included:
- Antioch- Mayor Jim Davis, Chef Jon Hork from the Lone Tree Golf Course
- Clayton- Mayor Julie Pierce, Chef Tim Hammack from the Clayton Farmers' Market
- Concord- Mayor Laura Hoffmeister, Chef/owner Abdel Redouane from Bella and Luna Restaurants
- Hercules- Mayor Joe Eddy McDonald, Chef Albert Rivera from the Powder Keg Restaurant
- Martinez- Mayor Rob Schroeder, Chef Pat Nelson from Haute Stuff
- Pleasant Hill- Mayor Michael Harris, Chef Terry Jiang from Kobe Japan
- San Ramon- Mayor Abram Wilson, Chef Marie Graham from Thyme2Eat
- Walnut Creek - Mayor Gary Skrell, Chef Frank Palmer of Bing Crosby's, McCoveys and Maria Maria's.
The cook-off was the vision of Cindy Gershen, chef and owner of Sunrise Bistro in Walnut Creek. Through her restaurant, Gershen launched a Wellness Challenge earlier this year. She challenged local restaurants to replace prepared foods and sugar in their diets with healthy choices such as fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. She is now taking her challenge county-wide.
Each mayor brought his or her protein choice (poultry, beef, fish, tofu) and used produce supplied by Concord's farmers' market to create a dish on the spot that met the 'healthy eating' criteria - low salt, low sugar, high fiber and high protein.
Sous chefs will be provided by Mt. Diablo High School's Serendipity hospitality training program.
The mayors had one hour, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., to prepare their culinary masterpieces. Judges included: Roberta Gonzales, CBS 5 meteorologist, John Silviera, President Pacific Coast Farmers Market, Alison Negrin, Executive Chef John Muir Hospital, Dr. Bill Lide, Kaiser Permanente and Frocene Philips from the Contra Costa Times.
Roberta Gonzales also broadcast the weather live from the plaza on Channel 5 for the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.
The Music and Market series continues on Thursday nights through Sept. 17. The Farmers' Market is in the Plaza from 4 to 8 p.m. with music at 6:30 p.m. Additional movie nights are scheduled for every Thursday in August.
Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. Free parking is available in the Todos Santos Parking Center on Salvio between Mt. Diablo Street and Concord Avenue and in the Salvio Street Garage on Salvio between Grant and Colfax streets.
For more information, visit www.concordfirst.org or call the Downtown Hotline at (925) 671-3464.