Young Chefs in the Making

5th Annual YMCA Iron Chef Competition

On Tuesday evening, April 30, Bayview Hunters Point YMCA’s Primed & Prepped Program hosted its 5th Annual YMCA Iron Chef Competition. 

“The YMCA Iron Chef Competition event and fundraiser has been running for five years at various locations, including places like San Francisco State and The Fillmore Heritage Center,” says Branch Operations Director, Tacing Parker. 

(L-R: Tacing Parker, Angela Scott, Demetrius Duram)

“This year, we wanted to bring it back to the branch. Our young people are seeing a reflection of themselves when our community works and volunteers in our programs. For us, having chefs that come from or who are connected to Bayview Hunters Point is paramount.” -Tacing Parker

The YMCA Iron Chef Competition

The YMCA of San Francisco Iron Chef Competition brings all the education the Primed & Prepped students have learned to the test and divides them into teams with local prestigious chefs. This year we welcomed Chef Beatrice Redwood-Preston and Chef Dwayne White into the kitchen with the support of our YMCA student sous chefs. The cooking competition awards points to taste, plating and originality, with bonus points going to food handling, organization, cooking technique, and teamwork.

Chef Dwayne White

Executive Chef of White House Catering

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, as a young boy, Chef Dwayne White would often find himself in the kitchen satisfying his natural curiosity and talent and experimenting and creating with whatever ingredients he could find on hand.  Chef White’s first experience in a commercial kitchen was just out of high school when he worked for a nonprofit organization preparing tasty meals for children with diabetes. Over the years, Chef White’s love of food and cooking became a driving passion that carried him to the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, CA where he obtained his degree in Culinary Arts.

After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu, Chef White went on to create magic at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. For Disney, Chef White worked exclusively at Epcot, where he regularly participated in Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival, Disney’s largest annual event, feeding more than 1.5 million guests per year. After an inspiring stint in Florida, Chef White returned to his hometown of Los Angeles, CA where he landed a position as head chef and kitchen manager at the world famous Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles. Chef White’s passion for life, infectious personality, and adventuresome spirit constantly push him beyond prescribed boundaries. It is no wonder that in desiring to explore and develop his constantly evolving creative culinary ideas, Chef White left the static restaurant scene to focus on his own endeavors. He now owns and operates his own successful business, White House Catering in Los Angeles, CA. 

Chef Beatrice Redwood-Preston 

Executive Chef and Business Owner of Mise en Place Events & Catering

Chef Beatrice is the owner/operator of Mise en Place Events & Catering (literally meaning “Everything in Place”). She is a native of San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point where she learned early in her childhood the importance of making great meals and having family & friends to share it with. From humble beginnings, she recalls shadowing her grandparents in the tradition of hosting those who stopped by for a “Southern Conversation.” Paramount to her upbringing is the legacy of her mother, Patricia McCoy, who emphasized the importance of the family sitting down together to “break bread” as often as possible.

In 2014, Chef Beatrice left the corporate health care industry to pursue and complete an ACF Accreditation in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Diablo Valley College (DVC). Her studies at DVC opened the doors to work experiences with The John Madden Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, The Pebble Beach Lodge & Resort (AT&T Amateur Celebrity Golf Tournament), The Olympic Club (U.S. Open), Concourse de Elegance, and Food & Wine Explosion.

These opportunities allowed Chef Beatrice to work not only with renowned local chefs, but also celebrity chefs, like Carla Hall of “The Chew,” Guy Fieri, and Iron Chefs Michael Simon & Masaharu Morimoto. Since graduating, Chef Beatrice has been mentored by Karen Bevels (Karen Bevels Custom Catering) and Chef Glenn “Gator” Thompson (Gator’s Rustic Burger & their Creole Friends). Chef Beatrice has continued to be an influence in the industry and invites diners and foodies alike to enjoy her dynamic cuisine.

The Judges

Professionals in the industry came out to Bayview Hunters Point YMCA to support the student sous chefs of the YMCA Iron Chef Competition. 

“Working in food and beverage to me is a staple,” shares judge Gedeon Tsegaye.

“It’s one of the avenues that I got into and helped me when I was young. You get a hot meal. You get a paycheck and a place to figure out where you’re going to go. It’s an industry that has deep meaning for me, especially in San Francisco. Anything we can do to increase the workforce of culinary agents and chefs that are passionate about San Francisco; I want to be part of that. That’s why I’m here.”

Special thanks to the industry judges that volunteered their time to help shape the outcome of this YMCA Iron Chef event. 

• Bedeon Tsegaye, Bar Director at Alexander’s Steakhouse
• Robin Bates – Primed & Prepped Board Member
• April Spears, Executive Chef and Owner of Auntie April’s and Cafe Envy
• Trent Page, Executive Chef of Whole Foods Market
• Thomas Cerutti, Director of Food and Beverage for Park Central Hotel

And the Winner Is…

Congratulations Chef Bea! The plating of her shrimp and creamed corn cakes atop a split pea coulis earned her top marks from the panel of judges. 

The Student Sous Chefs

Junior Sous Chefs

Andrew Haran​
Elanna Lynch
Eutika Talaeai​
Gabby Leon

Special Thanks

Primed & Prepped Instructor Chef Yaku Moton-Spruill
Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF)
Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman​
Primed & Prepped Advisory Board
Anthony Seupaul and Jordan Bruster, Photographers
P&P Fundraiser Volunteers
Program Donors
YMCASF Staff