Judges & Competitors
Special MC
MALORIE MADDOX
Malorie
is co-anchor of the evening newscasts on WOWT, Omaha’s NBC affiliate. Prior to assuming her duties on the station's primary newscasts, she served as co-anchor on WOWT's Live at Daybreak and as a consumer investigator for Six On Your Side.
Malorie was selected as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Omahans” in 2005 for her leadership and volunteer work in the community. She serves as a board member for the YWCA.
Malorie is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where she was a student producer for the Roy Williams Show. She grew up in Wellington, Kansas. She lives in West Omaha with her husband, Greg and their son.
Event MC
GENE CAMAROTA - www.comeonintomykitchen.com
Gene realized his love of cooking at a young age. As a child Gene cooked for his family and continued his passion in college, graduating with honors from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.
Gene moved from his hometown of New York City to Omaha in 1990, taking a position at Dinglebay Oyster Bar. In 1995 he began working for the Brass Grille before opening his own restaurant, Come On Into My Kitchen in 2003.
In addition to running Come On Into My Kitchen, Gene teaches culinary arts at Iowa Western College. Gene’s specialty includes a blend of French, Chinese, Mexican and Italian.
Judges
CHEF CLAUDE HAMPTON- www.absolutelyfresh.com
Claude has worked locally as a chef for more than 25 years. His previous experience includes Executive Chef at Oak Hills Country Club and Chef at the Omaha Country Club and Café DiCoppia. However for the past 17 years, Claude has worked for Absolutely Fresh Seafood as a Chef and Retail Manager, and in Wholesale Sales.
Claude also conducts cooking classes, Lobster Bakes, and Private Dinners through Chef Claude LLC.
CHEF JEFF SNOW - www.cateringcreations.com
Jeff began cooking at such a young age that he cannot remember a time when he wasn’t studying culinary arts. He took his love of cooking to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.
After stints at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida and at Sarducci’s Italian Restaurant in Plano, Texas, Jeff returned to his hometown of Omaha. He worked as the Executive Chef at the French Café for ten years before establishing his own catering and event planning company, Affairs Remembered, Inc, in 2003.
CHEF BRIAN O'MALLEY - www.mccneb.edu
Brian grew up cooking, which eventually led him to the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont, where he graduated with Distinction. Before taking a position as an instructor at the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College, Brian worked as a chef at restaurants in Santorini, Greece, Vail, Colorado, and Nebraska.
For his innovative work as an educator of culinary arts, Brian was inducted to the Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame in 2010, making him the youngest inductee of all time. In addition to his efforts as an instructor in the field, Brian is also on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Food Cooperative and an integral member of the Alternative Growers Group in Washington County, Nebraska.
JIMI DIPRIMA - www.jimids.com
After 15 plus years in the restaurant business, Jimi decided to open his own restaurant Jimi D’s in 2009. Jimi D’s menu is full of Jimi’s unique ideas and delicious entrees, and the restaurant has become a huge success in Omaha.
Amidst Jimi D’s popularity, Jimi plans to open Ponzu Sushi and Grill in the heart of Aksarben Village as well. Ponzu will offer an innovative “East meets West” approach to the sushi cuisine.
Competitors
CHEF JEFF EVERRODE - www.pitchpizzeria.com
Jeff has worked in the restaurant business for 17 years, spending 10 of those years as a chef.
After receiving his degree from The Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, New York, Jeff spent time as a chef in New York City, Salt Lake City, and California before accepting a position in Omaha at Pitch Coalfired Pizzeria.
CHEF ENZO ZURLO - www.zurlos.com
Enzo has worked in the restaurant industry for over 20 years, in both the front and back of the house.
Enzo is a first born American in his family; born and raised in New York. Enzo is self-trained and taught. He opened Zurlo's Bistro Italiano 18 months ago with a goal to please every palate possible with the experience he has saturated from his family & fellow co-workers. Enzo has a true passion for what he does.
CHEF CLAYTON CHAPMAN - www.greyplume.com
Chapman is an Omaha native with a definitive understanding of the restaurant industry. He began his culinary career in the dish pit of North Omaha's Mother's Good Food at the age of 15. Clayton then worked at Omaha’s beloved M’s Pub as the daytime chef before attending culinary school at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago.
While in culinary school, he was the youngest person to ever hold the Chef de Partie position under Chef Rick Tramonto at the world-renowned Tru Restaurant. During his time at Tru, he also trained under Three Michelin Star-rated Chef Laurent Gras. Upon graduating, Clayton travelled to Europe to experience traditional French cuisine before returning to Omaha and working as Executive Chef of Omaha’s celebrated V. Mertz, where he introduced the “tasting menu” concept to the Omaha market.
After V. Mertz, he served as the Executive Chef at Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops in Omaha and taught culinary classes at Metropolitan’s School for the Culinary Arts. He resides in Midtown with his wife, Bernadette, and son, Hudson Grey.
CHEF ANDREW EWING - www.woodcliffrestaurant.com
Andrew Ewing is a native of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In 2000, Andrew attended the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary program at Brown Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Andrew has worked in many restaurants including Teaz (Woodbury, Minnesota),The Garden of the Gods Club (Colorado Springs, CO), V.Mertz (Omaha), and Tiger Tom's Pub (Omaha).
In 2010, Andrew along with business partners Brooke Goracke and Rob Busson, opened The Woodcliff Restaurant in Fremont, NE.