Safeway Names 'Search for Our Next Chef' Finalists

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has narrowed its “Search for Our Next Chef” to three finalists who will compete in a skillet meal cook-off on May 16 for the chance to work alongside chefs in the Safeway Culinary Kitchen here and have his or her dish added to the Open Nature private-label line.

Finalists Chanda Clark of Compton, Calif., Mary Kellan-Williams of Peoria, Ariz., and Dave Histed of Chicago will present their original recipes to a panel of Safeway executives and executive chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli, who appears on the Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Iron Chef.”

Safeway combed through hundreds of submissions, conducted a nationwide People’s Choice online vote and hosted cook-off events in San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago as part of months-long competition.

“With the final cook-off event just around the corner, we are looking forward to rewarding one chef not simply for the distinction of winning this three-month long competition, but with the opportunity to join a top-notch team and bring their recipe to millions of Safeway shoppers,” said Joe Ennen, senior vice president of consumer brands at Safeway.