Culinary king to be crowned at food bank fundraiser

Move over “Chopped.”

This Saturday, three peninsula chefs will face off against each other in the first-ever Clash of the Culinary Kings. The competition, which is being held at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, is to help raise money for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank.

The event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. with an hors d’oeuvres competition. Several eateries from around the peninsula are providing hearty snacks for the 200 expected guests. Attendees can then vote on the best hors d’oeuvres. Kassik’s Brewery, Alaska Berries and Bear Creek Winery will provide beer and wine.

Linda Swarner, executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, said guests will be pleased with the food.

“I don’t think (guests) will go away hungry,” she said.

The night’s main event is a competition between three local chefs — Steve England of Kenai Catering, Paul Warner of aksupperclub.com, and Daniel Haag of The Flats Bistro.

Each chef will be given 45 minutes to transform a mystery box of food into a delicious entree. After the time is up, three judges will eliminate one chef. The two remaining chefs will move on to the final round where they will cook a dessert to determine who is the night’s culinary king.

The chefs will prepare their dish at identical cooking stations provided by Spenard Builders Supply and Whirlpool. The winner will receive a custom trophy donated by Metal Magic.

Steve England said the experience will be new for him and his wife.

“We haven’t done (a competition like this) before, but we’ll give it a shot,” he said. “We’re excited to be involved.”

England said he’s looking forward to participating in the competitions and helping the food bank.

“It’s going to be exciting,” he said. “There’s a little bit of anxiety on my part, because here I’m going to butt heads with two other really good chefs in the area. But in the end it’s for the Food Bank — that’s the most important thing.”

Despite holding this type of competition for the first time, Swarner said she expects a successful night.

“People are really excited because it’s new and it’s different,” she said. “This will be entertaining, and you get to eat good food.”

Swarner said the event is important, because it helps provide food to people in need. In 2014, the Food Bank provided more than 1 million pounds of food to Kenai Peninsula residents. Swarner said the Food Bank served nearly 700 people a month last year.

This year, those numbers are increasing.

“We keep having more people come and seek our services,” Swarner said.

Tickets for the event are $75 a person, and can be purchased at the door or at the food bank. All proceeds from the evening go to support general operations at the food bank.

For more information, call Linda Swarner at 398-4846

Reach Ian Foley at ian.foley@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

A woman stands with her sign held up during a rally in support of Medicaid and South Peninsula Hospital on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer residents rally in support of South Peninsula Hospital and Medicaid

The community gathered on Wednesday in opposition to health care cuts that threaten rural hospitals.

Hunter Kirby holds up the hatchery king salmon he bagged during the one-day youth fishery on the Ninilchik River on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Photo by Mike Booz
Ninilchik River closed to sport fishing

The closure is in effect from June 23 through July 15.

Señor Panchos in Soldotna, Alaska, is closed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna restaurant owner remains in ICE custody; federal charges dropped

Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon was accused of being in the country illegally and falsely claiming citizenship on a driver’s license application.

Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough to provide maximum funding for school district

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will receive less money from the state this year than it did last year.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday.
Pools, theaters, libraries in jeopardy as cuts loom

The district issued “notices of non-retention” to all its pool managers, library aides and theater technicians.

A sockeye salmon is pictured in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Fishing slow on Russian River, improving on Kenai

Northern Kenai fishing report for Tuesday, June 17.

Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchor Point man accepts plea deal for November shootings

Buildings operated by a local health clinic and an addiction recovery nonprofit were targeted.

A demonstrator holds up a sign during the “No Kings” protest on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer hits the streets to say ‘No Kings’

Around 700 gathered locally as part of a nationwide protest.

Brooklyn Coleman, right, staffs The Squeeze Squad lemonade stand during Lemonade Day in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids learn business skills at annual Lemonade Day

Around 40 stands were strewn around Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski and Sterling for the event.

Most Read