experience
MESA Continues To Heat Up
Downtown New Albany
“So You Think You Can Cook?” Competition Garners Big Response, Helps Others
BY ANGIE FENTON | PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN WATSON
IF YOU HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED MESA, a
Collaborative Kitchen, you’re missing out.
The New Albany hotspot continues to garner
rave reviews and churn out memorable experiences
for foodies of all ages with events and experiences
designed to make memories.
Recently, MESA hosted its first-ever “So You
Think You Can Cook?” contest, which culminated
in a competition that pitted three local amateur
cooks against one another, guided by notable chefs.
Thanks to Food Sponsor GFS, rookie cook
Christopher Rojas presented a pureed Parsnip
Soup with Veggies under the advise of Chef Dallas
McGarity. Team Liz Martino’s cooking contestant
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EXTOL • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
SaraRose Hornung served a Lamb Chop with
Potatoes and a Squash Puree with a Red Wine
Reduction Sauce. And amateur cook Catrina Hill
wowed with a Pork Belly with Chili Sauce under
the tutelage of Chef Eric Morris.
“We were blown away by the local buy-in for
the event,” said MESA co-owner Bobby Bass. “The
number of brave contestants and their families
was overwhelming. So many of them and the
chefs had such a great time. We will be doing this
again, and we cannot wait.”
After a compilation vote that included online
voting, guests at the finale and Extol Magazine’s
resident foodie Jason Applegate (whose input was
only to break a tie, which didn’t happen), Catrina
Hill was named the winner of the inaugural event.
“I am extremely impressed with the local talent
we have in Kentuckiana,” said Ysha Bass, who co-
owns MESA. “We had people come as far as from
Bowling Green, Ky., on a bus to compete (in the
first rounds). It was such a fun event not only for
the contestants but also for the families and friends
that watched online or came to experience it.”
In addition to Hill’s win, Blessings in a Backpack
will benefit from the competition, too, Ysha Bass
added. “This was a wonderful way to bring the
community together, and we are looking forward
to next year.”