Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1545885
| LIFE IN SOLERA | AUGUST 2026 | 31 Extra Extra - Read All About Bon Appétit's First Ever Iron Chef Competition! In celebration of the USA's 250th birthday with a delicious BBQ, the members of the Bon Appétit Club held their inaugural Iron Chef Competition! Each table was provided with a list of ingredients and challenged to create a virtual dish based on those items. To add a twist of excitement, the Chairman, Patty Meinhardt, introduced a surprise ingredient (cinnamon) that had to be incorporated into each dish. While no actual cooking took place, the creativity flowed as members designed their culinary masterpieces in their minds. Three esteemed chef judges, Debbie Connor, Stephen St. John, and Diane Gell, evaluated the dishes based on the following criteria: Dish Name: How well does it reflect the ingredients used? Use of Ingredients: Did they utilize all the provided ingredients, and how creatively did they incorporate the secret ingredient? Presentation: How vividly did they describe the dish's assembly, flavor, and appearance? Judges scored each team on a scale from 1 (horrible) to 10 (magnifico). After all the presentations were complete, Table #13 emerged victorious, claiming the title of Iron Chef 2026! Bianca Ralston presented their Italian dish called "Benicio Amori," made with a lot of wine! This dish presentation started with the sounds of Italy and brought in the true flavors of the region. The team who created the dish included, not only Bianca but Tony and Lisa Lucchesi, Joe Gonzalez and Camela Christupherson. Congratulations to all teams, it was a fun and exciting competition. Of honorable mention were two other dishes - "Susann Sommers Hot Stuffed Thighs" and "Who gives a Cluck?". Join us for our August meeting, where we will feature a demonstration on how to make homemade ice cream. Bon Appétit meets on the first Friday of each month at 1 pm. If you're interested in being a guest or joining the club, please contact Diane Gell at (909) 223-9270. BON APPETIT CLUB