Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Ashland steps up to provide shelter ... Letters to the editor: Oct. 28, 2015 ... Ashland volunteer to receive Peace House honor ... Our View: Ashland steps up to provide shelter ... Letters to the editor: Oct. 28, 2015 ... Ashland volunteer to receive Peace House honor ... ASHLAND CULINARY FESTIVAL Sandwich chef doesn't fear Culinary Festival kitchen Sammich's joins lineup of chefs from Alchemy, Larks, Greensprings, Peerless, Public House, Brickroom, Regency Grill, Porters, Hearsay, Belle Fiore and Salame Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 2:00 AM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News Sammich, the Italian-Chicago sandwich shop in the Ashland Culinary Festival? Usually, we’re used to seeing mainly the fine dining houses, but Sammich chef Shane McCoy-Hardin is out to shift that perspective — and he might be able to do it with his strongest suits, sweets and baking. Is he nervous? Sure. It’s an intense annual competition, but McCoy-Hardin has developed a way of emptying his mind before the event, at which he has competed every year, but not won. Far from being a sandwich shop “cook,” McCoy-Hardin has worked at top local dining houses, including Beasey’s on the Creek, Martino’s, Winchester Inn, McCall House B&B and Cucina Biazzi, “all before I found my real home here. I love this place and the integrity of our food here.” He sat down Monday as one of his pastrami sandwiches were being finished off, leaving diners shaking their heads and commenting that the dish — crammed with cabbage and Russian dressing — was “like dessert.” “It’s a life-changing sandwich,” mused McCoy-Hardin. Chefs in competition at the Culinary Festival are given a big piece of meat and some veggies and other ingredients and told to give their best shot, a challenge that might trigger the shakes in many a chef, but McCoy-Hardin shrugs and says, “Any chef can cook a piece of meat. My favorite is the sweets and they emphasize that in the final round. It’s the downfall of a lot of chefs. My thing is cocoanut macaroons and chocolate chip cookies.” It’s hard to get chocolate chip cookies right, he adds, noting they need to be crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. “I finally got it down. Mine have six-and-a-half techniques and one secret ingredient,” a avows. He sells them at Sammich and nearby Case Coffee. A native of Santa Cruz, Calif., McCoy-Hardin came here 15 years ago and “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be. The mountain lakes, the people and sense of community, love it.” The competing chefs, aside from McCoy-Hardin, are: Billy Buscher of Alchemy, Maggie Trujillo of Larks, Justin Haydock of Green Springs Inn, Harlan Brooks of Peerless, Josh Dorcak of Public House, Skye Elder of Brickroom, Dale Fowler of Regency Grill, Dustin Fowler of Porters, Will Shine of Hearsay, Stefano Cipollone of Belle Fiore Winery and Anna Hogan of Salame. Judges are James Beard Award winner, Cory Schreiber, founder of Wildwood Restaurant in Portland; food blogger Fabiola Donnelly; and Iron Chef Oregon and Top Chef 2014 James Williams of Omar’s Fresh Fish and Steaks. The premier ticket is $70. Lodging packages are available. It will be held at a new site this year, Ashland Hills Hotel, on Friday through Sunday, Nov. 6-8. For tickets and information, go to www.ashlandchamber.com/culinary2015 or call 541-482-3486. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501