Del Mar Highlands Restaurants Will Compete in Chicken Cook-Off Saturday

This Saturday in the spirit of National Chicken Month, five neighboring restaurants in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center will be competing in a friendly game of chicken for the first annual Chicken Cook-Off.

The cook-off will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and hosted by the pair of Italian sister-restaurants Mia Francesca and Davanti Enoteca. Competing restaurants will include Rimel’s, Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza and Burlap. The event will be free and open to the public and sure to have samples ready to taste.

The inspiration for the cook-off came from Davanti Enoteca founder and owner, Chef Scott Harris. Harris, a co-founder of Francesca’s Restaurants, is an esteemed chef and restaurateur from Chicago who owns more than 20 restaurants nationwide.

Two of his dishes entering the competition will be Davanti Enoteca’s "Pollo ‘Sole Mio’" and Mia Francesca’s "Pollo alla Romana." Divanti Enoteca assistant general manager Jessica Wakely thinks both dishes will stand out amongst the competition.

“I think both dishes are a really great portion for the value,” said Wakely. “Both are priced under $20 and offer a great value. The 'Pollo ‘Sole Mio’' meal was inspired by Scott’s old partner [Dennis Terczak] in the food business and it’s a tribute to his old friend. It has a really delicious tomato and red chili glaze sauce. The flavors are so great and full and in your face in that dish.”

“The 'Polo alla Romana' has a great sauce. We brine and roast our chicken in aromatics and serve with a delicious sauce of garlic, shallots, rosemary, olive oil, lemon and a little bit of spicy chili flake with roasted potatoes on the side. It’s just a hearty, great meal all around and it goes great with a glass of white wine.” 

A panel of judges from U-T San Diego, North County Times and San Diego Magazine will join chef, author and winner of The Next Food Network Star Amy Finley to decide which dish will take the honor of being named prize chicken.