Houston’s Top Chefs Wage a Risotto Battle: And the Yummy Champion is…

What: The 12th International Risotto Festival

Where: Houston Design Center

PC Moment: Thirteen talented chefs pitted their risotto skills in a tasty competition in which Carmelo Mauro of Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano won top honors for his Risotto Con Melanzane, composed of veal ragu, grilled eggplant, ricotta salata, mascarpone and crumbled Parmigiano-Reggiano. This yummy winner is the latest addition to menu at the Houston restaurant perched on Memorial Drive, west of Dairy Ashford Road. Taking second and third place were chef Alberto Gutierrez with The Tasting Room City Centre and chef Michael Hoffman with Oxbow 7. Honorable mention went to chefs Dillon Kao and Denver Kao of Express Italia.

Welcoming the several hundred guests who strolled the tree-shrouded acreage of the design center and grazed through the varied risotto offerings were chairs Julie and Stephen Chen, Raine and Alan Falik and Leslie and Charles Simmons. Taking the lead as honorary chairs were Janie and Todd Mason.

Stirring their massive risotto pans in the heat of the competition were Greg Milo of The Art Institute of Houston, Scotty Campbell of Bertazzoni, Johnny Mandola of Damian’s Cucina Italiano,  Fadi Dimassi of Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill, Manuel Pucha of Maison Pucha Bistro, Tiago Almeida of Quattro/Four Seasons Hotel, Maurizio Ferrarese of Ferrarese Catering, Matt Tahaney of Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant and John Buchanan of Third Coast.

The worthy cause behind the feeding frenzy fun was Casa de Esperanza, which will receive proceeds from the gathering.

Who: Misty and Jeff Lindenberger, Terry and Fred Baca, Sheri and Grant Roane, Gretchen and David Anderson, Catherine Carrigan, Jay Rodgers, Jan and Tom Simmons, Frank Rynd, Ben Brown, Caroline and Will Brown, Bart Barrett, Ann and Ed Deery.