Niles man takes home ‘Backyard Chef’
Published 5:39 pm Sunday, August 5, 2012
Leader photo/JOHN EBY Ten grill gladiators entered 46 meat dishes and seven side dishes in Saturday’s seventh annual Backyard Chef sponsored by Midwest Propane at the 161st Cass County Fair. They competed for $1,800 in prize money. As grand champion, Chris Archer of Niles can become a judge in 2013.
CASSOPOLIS — After finishing as reserve grand champion in 2011, Amy Archer of Niles might have won the seventh annual Backyard Chef.
But she decided to bring her son, Chris, home from the University of Michigan, and he carted away the big trophy with a grill on it for $500 grand champion Saturday afternoon, the final day of the 161st Cass County Fair.
“He’s a great cook. I taught him well,” said Amy, who debuted in 2010 and has also won the chili contest at Niles Hunter Ice Festival. “I talked him into coming over to compete against me.”
“I’ve never cooked in competition before,” said Chris, 22. At U of M, where he studied neuroscience, he’ll go on to graduate school for psychology. Archers live on Barron Lake Road in Cass County.
“My best one, I think, was my chicken, which got third. The glaze turned out amazing. I like working with bizarre flavors,” said Chris, who also created a three-pound burger stuffed with goat cheese and lathered with cherry sauce. It looked as good as it tasted. Blueberry sauce completed his pork loin among 46 meat entries, which staggered five judges.
Chris and his mom entered 11 dishes — his three and her eight.
“We worked into the wee hours last night and were up bright and early,” said Amy, who prepared side dishes and entered meat categories for propane and charcoal. She stuffed a melt-in-your mouth beef tenderloin with fresh baby spinach, mushrooms and cheese.
“I was just doing it for fun,” Chris said, “and it was a lot of fun.”
By winning, he can become a judge.
“We had a great day together,” Amy agreed.
Propane beef
Mark Vantobbergen, first
Chris Archer, second
Amy Archer, third
Propane pork
Ryan Little, first
Chris Archer, second
Cherie Reeves, third
Propane poultry
Mark Vantobbergen, first
Cherie Reeves, second
Ken Ramsey, third
Charcoal beef
Amy Archer, first
Jeremy Vohwinkle, second
Mark Vantobbergen, third
Charcoal pork
Jerry Reeves, first
Bill Brown, second
Mark Vantobbergen, third
Charcoal poultry
Mark Vantobbergen, first
Ken Ramsey, second
Chris Archer, third
Reserve grand champion — Mark Vantobbergen
Grand champion — Chris Archer
