Grand Cafe's Jon Radle wins Local Chef Challenge

After whupping Vincent Francoual of Vincent, Sameh Wadi of Saffron, and Erik Anderson of Porter & Frye, Grand Cafe chef Jon Radle emerged victorious at this weekend's Local Chef Challenge at the Food & Wine Experience.

I was impressed that the F&W show ponied up a substantial prize--$2,500 in cash and a $1,000 gift certificate to Kitchen Window--making it perhaps the most serious local cooking competition in town. I'm attributing Jon's win, of course, to his cool-under-pressure cooking skills, but his intimidating photo in the publicity materials couldn't have hurt either--tell me this isn't a booking shot for a guy who just clubbed somebody over the head with a frying plan! In all seriousness, though, congratulations Jon.