No, I didn’t try a new restaurant, but today was a special day nonetheless. For the third time since 2008, I had the honor of sitting in the Martha Stewart Show’s studio audience.
This time, however, was far better than the rest because Martha herself featured the finalists from the Google Chef competition that I and two other Googlers put on just the week prior. In 2007, a wonderful Google philanthropist launched Google Chef in New York to raise money for City Harvest – over 15 teams of 3 formed in the office, all raising as much money as they could in order to become a competitor in the actual Iron Chef like challenge a month ahead. Each year, a variety of celebrity chefs and Googlers sign up to judge the competition – last year we had Gail Simmons, Marcus Samuelson, and Martha Stewart. The event has gotten better each year.
This year, Barbara Bochner, Michelle Rosen (pictured below with me) and I decided to switch things up.
Rather than reveal the winning Google Chef team the day of the event, we decided to narrow the competition down to two finalists teams that would then compete LIVE on Martha Stewart a week later. This DEFINITELY increased the tension and the pressure to win each round – no longer just fighting for a Google trophy; now fighting for Martha’s stamp of approval! The food trivia round was especially intense – we had over 5 tie breakers, leading Todd English to devise trivia questions on the spot to stump the three teams on the stage!
We ended up with three finalists teams, and today, Martha instructed them to create dishes live on her show that included a variety of Spring ingredients: baby rack of lamb, spring aspargus, new potatoes, her very own chickens’ eggs, and spring onions. While all teams put in a ton of effort crafting and executing their recipes, Team USA stood out with their crusted lamb tacos and chipotle crema. They looked delicious! And, their personally designed yellow Google aprons (adorned with striped ribbon and white buttons) definitely won bonus points with Martha. After tasting all of the teams’ dishes, she had no hesitation that Team USA was a winner. I was so thrilled considering they were the only all women team. GIRL POWER!
We ended up raising over $30,000 for Share our Strength, and the event was an awesome hit at the office. Very happy with the results and can’t wait to plan it again next year! And for your viewing pleasure, an epitomizing picture of Martha below.
You know I rarely, if ever, watch shows like this, but I tuned in because of your involvement. I thought the competition was terrific. Extremely well organized and the teams very creative "under the gun." I was pulling for the girls because they were so enthusiastic and cute (not meant in a sexist way, but because of their ebullience). We're having lamb chops tonight as a tribute. The only thing missing was you on stage. you are to be commended for producing a riveting event. Right up your alley.