Provecho Chef Rosie O'Connor Wins 2014 Chef Open

Menifee’s own Chef Rosie O’Connor of Provecho Grill took home the first place People's Choice Award title at last night’s 7th annual So Cal Chef Open. Eleven of the local area’s elite chefs competed for the grand prize title while showcasing just a taste of their culinary creations.

The So Cal Chef Open is an annual fundraiser benefitting the Oak Grove Center for Education Treatment and the Arts located in Murrieta. The Oak Grove Center is a nonprofit organization that specializes in 24-hour residential care, education, and therapeutic treatment for children with a variety of psychological, social, emotional, behavioral, medical, and neurological problems mostly attributed to abuse or trauma.

This year’s participating chefs included Provecho Grill, Bailey’s, First Class Catering, Frescos, Heart of the House Catering, La Bella Vita, New Life Culinary Creations, Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula Catering, Trattoria Toscana, and Yuan Boutique Bistro. This event is open to the public with ticket sales raising funds for the cause. Each taster is given three tickets to vote for their favorite chefs. They have the option to vote however they like giving all three tickets to one chef, or selecting three of their favorites.

Fresco was awarded the third place People’s Choice award for their mouthwatering Veal Saltimbocca. New Life Culinary Creations was awarded two honors, both the Judge’s Pinnacle Award and second place overall in the People’s Choice Award. They set out two delicious dishes; a pork tenderloin with boysenberry and fennel glaze over herb rice and also an ahi poke with avocado, mango, cilantro, and wasabi.

Chef Rosie O’Connor of Provecho Grill earned the coveted First Place People's Choice Award with a flatiron steak smothered in her famous ancho chile barbecue sauce served with Mexican potatoes with carmelized onions and chiles gueritos, which are yellow chiles stuffed with grilled chipotle shrimp drizzled with a creamy Cajun sauce. They also served up their Pambazo, a telera roll topped with chorizo, potatoes, beans, lettuce, tomato, pico de gallo and sour cream and finished with Colorado sauce and queso fresco.

As O’Connor took the stage to accept her award, her eyes brimming with tears of joy, she took a moment to thank not only her incredible team but also her customers.

“I love coming to work each day. I truly have the most wonderful customers,” she shared.

And just like that, Menifee’s Provecho Grill is now the proud owner of the People's Choice 2014 award. Stop in to admire their plaque and of course to taste their award winning food.