Chefs under Fire an the Carillon's Tasting Menu

I had the opportunity to attend the Chefs under Fire event on Nov. 30th at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center.  While I didn't have the opportunity to try the dishes made by the challengers, I did have the opportunity to sample some tasty bites from the Carillon by Chef Josh Watkins.  If you haven't been to the Carillon yet, here's your chance to give them a try.  From Wednesday, Dec. 16th - Saturday, Dec. 19th, Chef Josh Watkins will be offering a fabulous tasting menu for just $30.  This meal is a steal.  Judging from the chit chat about it on Twitter, you'll want to make reservations.  Menu posted below.  Other photos from Chefs under Fire by me, unless otherwise noted. The candied garlic in this dish was simply fantastic.  It was sweet and nutty, and something that you wouldn't expect to with red meat.  The Braised Beef Short Ribs with celery root, apricot glaze, and black pepper gastrique was amazingly tender.  This morsel has set the standard for fork tender in my book.  I had to eat about five of these, just to make sure they were really all that tender.  I think they are, but I might need more just for testing.  Photo by John Knox. Pineapple, cheese, and curry aren't usually served together, but I don't think the Carillon is the usual restaurant. I tried to capture some photos of the flurry of chefs in the kitchen prior to the judging, but alas, most of them looked like a blur. The main activity of the evening was the judging of the dishes by Celebrity Chefs David Bull, Tyson Cole, and Kent Rathbun.  While I was expecting an intense presentation, the judging was more entertainment than I had imagined.  The three celebrity chefs had jokes up their sleeves that kept the crowding laughing all night.  These photos are by John Knox.  More Photos here. Information and details about the Chef under Fire winners here.  Busy chefs. Tyson celebrates something. Sharing chef secrets. Martin Weaver, the creator of the pumpkin bbq sauce. David, would you like some rosemary? Loren Root wins!