1 Sunday was the Taittinger-sponsored champagne brunch, with Top Chef champion Spike Mendelsohn emceeing the finals of a competition between Ritz Carlton chefs…
2 The celebrity judges for the competition were Tony Bourdain, José Andrés, and Eric Ripert
3 Both chefs competing were women, the winning chef had her young son as a sous chef
4 Time is almost up- ready, set, plate!
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6 Delivering the goods to the panel of judges
7 Max with Alan and Evelyn, a couple from Dallas we became friendly with
8 A brief chance to watch the sunset from our room while we rallied for the final gala dinner
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10 The gala started with cocktails on the outdoor patio at Blue by master mixologist Adam Seger. Martini glasses chilled with ice water while he concocted a mad…
11 Quite the theatrical cocktail event, the next step was to properly shake
12 Tomato granite was put in the bottom of the glass and the cocktail mixture poured over it. Of course, no drink is complete without 3 thick slices of black…
13 The gala dinner in Blue was 7 courses, each course conceived by one of the celebrity chefs
14 At the end of the meal, the chefs take a bow as Eric Ripert introduces them. Videocams were setup in the kitchen and monitors spread throughout the dining room…
15 Our table companions for the gala dinner
