Douglas Rodriguez, Jonathan Eismann, Andrea Randazzo to Compete in Ceviche Throwdown for Gulf Fishermen

Courtesy of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill and South Florida Foodies

​

Miami's First Annual Ceviche Throwdown is Sunday, October 17, from 3 to 6 p.m. Participating chefs include Timon Balloo (Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill), Clay Conley (formerly of Azul), Jonathan Eismann (Fin), Douglas Rodriguez (Ocean/De Rodriguez Cuba), Andrea Randazzo (Water Club), and Kris Wessel (Red Light). Chefs will prepare ceviche and wine pairings, which attendees will get to taste. The event is sponsored by Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Miami International Wine Fair, and South Florida Foodies. It is modeled after a ceviche throwdown benefit in Houston earlier this year.

The event will benefit Friends of the Fishermen, a nonprofit associated with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.  Maude Eaton of South Florida Foodies describes herself as a "bon vivant who shares the love of food." According to Eaton, ninety percent of proceeds, after expenses, will be donated to the organization: "We thought it would be great to bring attention back to the Gulf, since it's not as prominent in the news anymore. We wanted to reiterate the beauty and bounty of the Gulf."

Eaton says they are offering Throwdown chefs available fish from Florida

and the Gulf, but that they are also including other seafood in order

to give the chefs the widest possible variety of ingredients. She says

that much of the fish will be sourced from Willy Gonzalez, a local

purveyor referred by Chef Norman Van Aken. JCC Food is providing

sustainable cobia from Panama.

One member of the South Florida

Foodies will be selected in a drawing to judge the event, alongside

other judges including Doreen Colondres (of La Cocina No Muerde) and Belkys Nerey.

According

to Timon Balloo of Sugarcane, a winning ceviche should "highlight the

pristine characteristics of the prime ingredient in his dish. Everyone

will have their own interpretation, which will be fun to see."

Jacob Katel

Timon Balloo behind the line at Sugarcane.

​

Short

Order asked Balloo who he was most excited to compete against:

"Honestly, I'm more worried about the turnout, so that we can support

the fishermen. This event is more about making a statement. It's

supposed to be fun." He admitted that he would be excited to

participate in the event with Jonathan Eismann and Douglas Rodriguez,

"the ceviche guru. They paved the way for us younger guys."

This

event is also the official closing party of the Miami International

Wine Fair. Tickets are $40 (advance) and $50 (at the event) and can be

purchased at the MIWF website or at the Miami Beach Convention Center Fairgrounds during the festival.