Contestants Samantha Johnson, left, and Pro’ fay Elizabeth Hall start their pasta as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Team Gorman, Rachel Gorman and Caden Pattnode celebrate winning the contest as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Judges Chef Pasqual Olhats, left, Chef Anita Lau, center, and Chef Adam Gertler, right, consult over their scoring of the meals as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Trinity Wiideman, 15, chops herbs for her team’s dishes as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Instructor Cameron Shim ladles broth into a pan of risotto as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Contestants Rachel Gorman, left, and Caden Pattnode, right, start their shrimp and sausage dish as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
The Raz family, Debra, left, Noga, center, and Amir pose for a photo in front of a cooking themed backdrop as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Contestants Pro’ fay (cq) Elizabeth Hall, left, and Samantha Johnson start their dishes as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Elizabeth Longo carries a tray of cupcakes out to a table as the Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Two of the judges, Chef Anita Lau of Mad Hungry Woman, left, and Chef Pascal Olhats, center, talk with one of the contestants Samantha Johnson during the competition. Orange County School of the Arts held a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory Saturday night that featured a “Throwdown” cooking competition between three teams of chefs and students in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
“Throwdown,” a benefit for the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory students at the Orange County School of the Arts will take place on Saturday, March 19 in Santa Ana. (Courtesy of OCSA)
Teachers took a lesson from their students Saturday night, March 19, during the culinary competition Throwdown, benefitting the Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory students at the Orange County School of the Arts.
The competition held at the Callero Family Foundation Plaza in Santa Ana seemed just like a Food Network show, with culinary school faculty acting as sous chefs for their students. Teams had 15 minutes to shop and plan their menu and 45 minutes to complete two entrées, one for judges to taste and one for display.
The fast-paced kitchen games were all part of the entertainment at the gala where local chefs also set up food stations to feed guests gourmet bites.
Neil Saavedra, a personality on KFI-AM 640 and host of “The Fork Report,” emceed with co-host Cloyce Martin, culinary alum from the class of 2019. Foodie influencer/blogger Anita Lau of Mad Hungry Woman and chef Adam Gertler of Würstmacher/Dog Haus were the guest judges.
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