finalsliderOn college football rivalry day, November 29, 2014, I was fortunate to compete in the Game Day Chef Chevron Cook Off during the tailgating frenzy at the USC v. Notre Dame game.

I was amazed at how tailgating has become so elevated since my college days.  The set ups were amazing, the food was awesome, and the spirit and energy were contagious.  I was more psyched to be at a tailgating party then I was to be at the game.

I had entered the Game Day Chef Challenge with what we at Sandwich America believe is the perfect tailgate fare, the almighty sandwich.

A sandwich is portable, can combine an amazing balance of flavors and textures and leaves a free hand for cheering on the home team or holding a beverage.

This was a fun challenge – find ingredients at Chevron that you can incorporate into the perfect game day food.

I took the challenge seriously and roamed about my Chevron for a good hour looking for inspiration for this Game Day Chef Challenge.

The ingredients were divided into five categories:

  • Beverage
  • Candy
  • Healthy Snack
  • Sweet Snack
  • Salty Snack

No doubt I would use all five categories to get my maximum 25 points for use of Chevron ingredients.

I settled on the idea of a Root Beer Bacon Jam that I could incorporate apricots and sesame candy into.

Salted cashews would be the perfect coating for my chicken and I would use the yogurt to make a delicious sauce.

The result was my Cashew Crusted Fried Chicken Sliders with Rootbeer, Bacon, Apricot Jam, Chipotle Yogurt Sauce and Fresh Basil on Toasted Brioche and a win at the Game Day Chef Challenge.

gamedaychefwin

Stay tuned – the finals will be at the Rose Bowl on January 1st where this little chicken slider will compete for $25,000 in Chevron Gas Cards.