Splendido Chef to Participate in Iron Chef Tucson Competition

Journal Broadcast Group has announced that Chef Albert DiIeso, executive chef for Splendido at Rancho Vistoso, has been selected as one of eight Southern Arizona-based chefs that have the opportunity to compete in the Iron Chef Tucson competition presented by Beck’s Beer. The competition is sponsored in part by Beck’s Beer, Comcast, Desert Diamond Casino and Community Partnership of Southern Arizona.

“Tucson has some of the best restaurants in America and it's exciting that Iron Chef puts our best to the test,” said Ken Carr, assistant program director and afternoon host for Mega Oldies 106.3 and 104.9, a participating Journal Broadcast Group radio station. “Last year's Iron Chef was incredibly exciting and this year's is going to be just as fun. I can't wait!"

The general public has the opportunity to choose their favorite chef by visiting www.mixfm.com, www.mega1063.com or www.1041thetruth.com and placing their vote. Voting for the competition will begin on December 1, 2007 and will go through December 18. Whoever receives the most votes will gain the chance to challenge Chef Albert Hall, executive chef at Acacia at St. Phillips and reigning Iron Chef Tucson champion, in an hour-long, culinary battle at Desert Diamond Casino’s I-19 & Pima Mine Road location on January 20, 2008 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Overseeing the menus and food preparation at Splendido, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Tucson, DiIeso has been serving the residents nutrition-conscious gourmet dishes called “Conscious Cuisine” on a regular basis. He has been developing flavorful dishes that fill people up, but don’t slow them down.

“We focus a number of our recipes on healthy eating and proper nutrition at Splendido,” said DiIeso. “To have the opportunity to showcase the ways we are innovating gourmet cuisine at the community in this competition, as well as show my expertise, is very exciting to me.”

General ticket prices for the Iron Chef Tucson competition range between $15-25 with VIP tickets, which includes a party with heavy appetizers and samplings from Beck’s Beer, priced at $40. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or any of Desert Diamond Casino’s locations.

A portion of the ticket sales will go to Café 54, a non-profit restaurant in Tucson that supports a unique employment training program for adults recovering from mental illnesses.

“What Café 54 is able to do by providing the restaurant community in Tucson with a pool of reliable employees, who have had training and first-hand experience working in a restaurant setting, is phenomenal,” said DiIeso. “I am ready to possibly be a part of this competition that will contribute to their overall mission.”

For more information on Café 54, please visit their website at www.cafe54.org.

For more information about the competition, please call Beth Soulliard, account manager for Journal Broadcast Group, at (520) 618-6125, or visit www.mixfm.com.


ABOUT SPLENDIDO
Splendido is a joint venture of Mather LifeWays, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Evanston, Ill., that creates Ways to Age WellSM for older adults; and The Plaza Companies, a developer headquartered in Peoria, Ariz., that specializes in retirement community development. Splendido offers resort-style senior living and its health center, Sonora, will open in early 2008. For more information about Splendido, please visit www.splendidotucson.com.

ABOUT JOURNAL BROADCAST GROUP
Journal Broadcast Group owns and operates 35 radio stations and 10 television stations in 12 states and operates two television stations under local marketing agreements. The broadcast business of Journal Communications Inc., Journal Broadcast Group is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Journal Communications is a diversified media company with operations in publishing, radio and television broadcasting, interactive media and printing services.