Two Morro Bay chefs will face off on Oct. 1  at the 2011 “Battle of the Bay” competition sponsored by Sunset Magazine. Neil Smith, executive chef for Windows on the Water and winner of the 2010 contest, will defend his title against Shawn Washburn of Shawn’s on Main Street. Battle of the Bay is one of the highlights of the Savor the Central Coast culinary event Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch in San Luis Obispo County.

The four-day event, co-produced by Sunset Magazine and the SLO County Visitors & Conference Bureau, attracts attendees from throughout North America for a celebration of the wines, produce, meat and seafood that are the hallmarks of the San Luis Obispo County area. Attendees will enjoy tastings and demonstrations, working gardens and educational presentations at the ranch, tours of oyster and abalone farms, sustainable vegetable operations and other attractions. The event will include a special presentation by Cat Cora, an “Iron Chef” on the Food Network.

Battle of the Bay was launched at the inaugural Savor event in 2010 and became an instant hit. Competitors are presented with a mystery basket of local food products and must use them to prepare a menu of their own choosing.  Like the popular TV show “Chopped,” the competition unfolds under a tight time limit and is conducted on site at the event while spectators observe. Chef Neil Smith won last year’s contest with a menu that combined the basket ingredients of black cod, oysters, abalone, heirloom tomatoes and blood oranges. Sunset magazine Editor-in-Chief Katie Tamony serves as judge for the Battle. 

Smith has 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, building his career in Colorado and California. He managed his first kitchen at the age of 20 and has been executive chef at Windows on the Water since 2007. Windows on the Water is an elegant waterfront restaurant in Morro Bay that is well known for both its sweeping views and fine cuisine.  Chef Neil describes his approach to cooking as a “melding of all the foods, flavors and aromas enjoyed in California” and influenced by cultures from throughout the world.

Challenger Chef Shawn Washburn and his wife Nicole have owned Shawn’s on Main Street for seven years. He is a California native who honed his skills throughout the state and was especially influenced by his mother, who employed him as a cooking instructor at a store she owned in Cambria, located just south of Hearst Castle on the Central Coast.  Shawn’s on Main Street specializes in wine country cuisine with emphasis on fresh, local and seasonal specialty foods presented in a cozy bistro ambiance. Shawn’s menus change frequently and every aspect of the operation is impeccably attended to by the chef and his wife. 

The Battle of the Bay puts a welcome spotlight on the charming fishing village of Morro Bay, whose iconic Morro Rock is a familiar landmark to generations of visitors. Today, the town is a favorite spot of vacationers seeking spectacular scenery, abundant outdoor activities including kayaking, hiking and cycling and an opportunity to enjoy an easy-paced getaway in a community studded with unique restaurants and art galleries, intriguing shops and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Hearst Castle and the wine regions of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo are all within short drives. “Morro Bay is one of the truly magical, unspoiled communities of California,” sad Joan Solu, who chairs the community’s Lodging and Tourism Alliance.  “Battle of the Bay is a wonderful opportunity for us to show visitors what we are all about. And once they sample us, we know they’ll be back.”

Savor the Central Coast is slated for Oct. 1. Information about Savor events and ticket purchase are available online at www.savorcentralcoast.com.
Morro Bay visitor information can be found at www.morrobay.org.