By Staff
DOWAGIAC -- Some of the Midwest's top ice carvers will travel to The Grand Old City for today's eighth annual Ice Time Festival, which for the first time offers festival-goers a chance to take home a work of art produced by an on-site artist.
Ten culinary chefs, including an international bronze medal winner, have entered the ice carving competition that opens at 8 a.m. Saturday in downtown Dowagiac and awards $1,200 in cash prizes and $1,645 in per diems.
According to Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority, this year's top carver will take home a cash award of $600, with second-place receiving $400 and third-place receiving $200.
Returning for his eighth season is Scott Erwin, corporate chef for Martin's Supermarkets in South Bend, who is a founding member of the National Ice Carving Association and an active and certified member of the American Culinary Federation. Erwin, who has received multiple ice carving awards and is an international bronze medal winner in ice sculpture, also presents seminars in ice and tallow carving.
Phillipson said that Erwin, along with Andrew Thistlethwaite, executive chef for Elcona Country Club in Bristol, Ind., recruited some of the best culinary chefs in the Midwest to the event.
They include: Executive Chef Travis Dale and Banquet Chef Justin Evans of Sandy Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Ind.; George Steward, dining room manager for Innsbrook Country Club in Chicago; John Rooney, district sales manager for Food Marketing Concepts Inc. of Indianapolis; Alfredo Arroyo, chef of Zygy's Bar and Grill in South Bend; Richard Biggs, purchasing manager for St. Joseph's Hospital in South Bend; and Bud Lies, owner of City Pure Ice in LaPorte, Ind.
Festival-goers will also recognize a local face, Chef Jackson of Dowagiac's Wood Fire Italian Tratorria.