He's mad, he's proud and he's groovin' with Jell-O.
He's Bambara's executive chef, Scott Blackerby.And he's angry because Iowa has stolen the honor of "Most Jell-O gelatin consumption per capita" away from our beloved Utah, his newly adopted home.
And now, with a quirky sense of humor and righteous pride, he's leading the battle to take the title back!
Blackerby, a celebrated chef who has cooked with the likes of Marcella Hazan and wowed patrons at Dallas' Nana Grill, has created a jiggling array of special JELL-O desserts to dazzle patrons at Bambara throughout April.
His shimmering creations presented in geometric configurations include such flavors as Meyer lemon chiffon, creamsicle with a shortbread "stick," mint cream gelatin on creme Anglaise, a sparkling kiwi and strawberry "cone" and more.
And here's the news: He's inviting the residents of Utah to join him in a "Take Back the Title!" recipe contest.
Bambara's contest calls for entries in three categories from three groups: kids under 14, home cooks, professional cooks.
Categories are: Best of the Beehive State JELL-O, red-green JELL-O, Party JELL-O (no alcohol).
Finalists will enjoy an afternoon JELL-O party with yours truly and other judges and plenty of free JELL-O products, cookbooks and most importantly, an opportunity to help Blackerby re-establish Utah as the capital of JELL-O consumption once again.
"The more people experiment with their recipes and the more recipes they enter, the more JELL-O gelatin they'll buy," says Blackerby. "State pride is at stake here, so we hope Utahns will enter early and enter often."
At the final judging party on May 13, prizes will include tuition to Bambara's Summer Kid's Cooking Classes, gift certificates for lunches and dinners at Bambara, and overnight stays at the Hotel Monaco.
Entry forms and contest rules are available at Bambara or by mail or fax. Readers may call 363-5454 to request copies.
Or entrants may simply state the categories they're entering and send as many recipes as they'd like, along with their name and phone number to Bambara, "Take Back the Title" contest, 202 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Deadline for entries is May 5. Finalists will be notified the week of May 8 and will be asked to bring completed JELL-O gelatin creations to the Hotel Monaco for the May 13 event.
Judges will award points based on taste, originality, jiggle factor and appearance. In case of a tie, judges will do a second round based only on taste and flavor.