Fall home show to cook up some fun competitions

The Deseret News Fall Home Show is cooking up some fun culinary competitions Oct. 8-10 at the South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State, Sandy.

Chef Bryan Woolley, host of KUTV's "Fresh From the Kitchen," has challenged Utah chefs to "throwdown" competitions, similar to Bobby Flay's "Throwdown" on the Food Network.

At 3 p.m. on Oct. 8, Woolley will face off against John Simpson of Culinary Concepts Catering in Logan.

Simpson studied at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and also teaches cooking classes at Utah State University and Kitchen Kneads in Logan.

I met Simpson while judging the "Utah's Best Chef" cook-off in 2007, which he won by turning out elegant cuisine with "mystery" ingredients, such as hot dogs and potato chips.

Then at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8, Wooley will compete again, this time with Gary Michaels from The Arrow 103.5 helping out as his sous chef.

The Woolley/Michaels team will go up against Tom Woodbury, culinary contributor of ABC 4's "Good Things Utah," and Bill Allred of X-96's morning show.

Both the radio personalities/sous chefs say they appreciate fine food and like to cook at home. But how will they perform under pressure?

On Oct. 9 at 3 p.m., there's a Utah version of Food Network's "Cupcake Wars," with three local pastry chefs.

The flour and sugar will fly during the "Cupcake Challenge," with Romina Rasmussem of Les Madelines, Leslie Fiet of Mini's Cupcakes, and Megan Faulkner Brown of The Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery.

Steve Hatch and Katie Masterson, owners of Hatch Family Chocolates and stars of The Learning Channel's hit TV show, "The Little Chocolatiers," will demonstrate holiday treats on the chef's stage all three days of the show.

Robert and Cortney Novogratz, interior designers for Bravo TV's "9 By Design," will headline the home decorating front. Their appearances are scheduled for Oct. 8, 4 and 7 p.m.; and Oct. 9, 2 and 4 p.m.

Other home and gardening seminars will be taught during the Home Show by Larry Sagers, gardening columnist for the Deseret News and radio host of KSL's "The Greenhouse"; Ken Roesbery, known as "The Grocery Guru"; and Elana Johnson, interior specialist for Home Depot.

Show hours are Oct. 8, 2-10 p.m.; Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Prices are $10 for adults; $7 for senior citizens; free for children age 12 and under. For more information, log on to www.saltlakehomeshow.com)

e-mail: vphillips@desnews.com