The much-anticipated Iron Chef Aruba competition, produced by Island Temptations magazine and being held during the Aruba Tourism Authority’s first annual Restaurant Week, will feature three of Aruba’s top chefs vying for the title won two years ago by Chef Urvin Croes from White Modern Cuisine and The Kitchen Table by White. This year’s Iron Chef Aruba will take place at The Alhambra Ballroom on Thursday, October 8th. The field of chefs represents Aruba’s international culinary scene with Executive Chef Steven Toevs (United States), Executive Chef Teddy Bouroncle (Peru), and Executive Chef Ever de Pena (Aruba) vying for the trophy this year.
About the competitors:
Executive Chef Stephen Toevs/The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba
Chef Stephen spent his early years shucking clams and fishing on a family fishing boat off of the waters of Narragansett Bay in Bristol, Rhode Island. Throughout his childhood, he was fascinated by food and began cooking at local clam shacks, and later Italian restaurants throughout the area. After studying engineering in college, and working in restaurant kitchens to support his school tuition, Stephen decided to pursue his passion and officially become a chef, graduating from the Culinary Institute of America. Over the years, his talents have grown and developed into an eclectic cooking style of his own.
Chef Toevs has earned several accolades throughout his career. He has served as a regional finalist in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs young chef competition, has cooked at the James Beard House in 2010, participated in the 2013 Cayman Cookout in the Cayman Islands, and was the founder of Desert Ridge Pit Masters, winning numerous awards on Arizona’s BBQ circuit.
Executive Chef Teddy Bouroncle/Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
Chef Bouroncle is a Peruvian native with more than a dozen years of culinary experience. The chef began his career in the United States, while also garnering further international experience and honing his individual culinary style with posts in Spain, Colombia, and Singapore. Prior to his arrival on Aruba, he was executive chef and food and beverage director at JW Marriott Cusco in Peru. Teddy overseas all daily kitchen operations and menus at the various restaurants and bars at the three Marriott properties here on the island.
Executive Chef Ever de Pena/Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
Chef Ever is the young gun in the competition, turning 30 years old last month. Born in Venezuela but raised in Aruba, Ever entered the apprenticeship program at the local vocational high school at the age of 15, and for five years combined school and hands-on training in some of Aruba’s finest restaurants under the watchful eye of the island’s top chefs. As executive chef at Manchebo, overseeing the menus and kitchen operations, Ever is on a culinary fast track, deftly composing beautiful dishes with subtle and complex flavors.
In addition to the Iron Chef competition, three of Aruba’s best bartenders go head-to-head in the Bartenders Brawl, being held during the cocktail hour preceding the live, onstage chef competition that will have a challenging mystery basket component.
Guests attending Island Temptations’ Iron Chef Aruba will enjoy sampling cocktails from the Bartenders Brawl prior to dinner, followed by a gourmet four-course dinner paired with wine from Aruba’s leading spirit distributors, Romar Trading, Pepia Est, and Arion Wine Company.
Foodies and wine lovers mark your calendars! Seating is limited for this finale event of Restaurant Week. For tickets and more information contact Island Temptations via Facebook or at info@island-temptations.com. Iron Chef Aruba is graciously sponsored by the Aruba Tourism Authority, Divi Resorts, Alhambra Casino & Shops, ASD Aruba Hotel & Restaurant, Equipment Supplies, Romar Trading, Arion Wine Company, Pepia Est, U.S. Meat Export Federation, DJ Vibe, and Caribbean Overseas.
