Chef’s Corner

Executive Chef Charles Lazzareschi has been named the 2008 Culinary Conqueror of the Food & Wine Show Dueling Chefs Competition after he and Sous Chef, Dusty Fischer, successfully defeated fellow Madison Originals chefs during this year’s competition. After three days of only 30 minutes to prepare two dishes (eight plates total) using mystery ingredients (opah, a Hawaiian fish, duck liver and American kobe flat iron steak) and a matching set of supplemental ingredients, not to mention the pressure of being judged by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Dan Curd of Madison Magazine and Raphael Kadushin, a national food and travel writer for the Isthmus, Bon Appétit and Condé Nast Traveler … Charles is the reigning champion!

Bio

Charles Lazzareschi, named Best Local Chef by the 2008 Madison Magazine Reader Poll, inherited an interest in cooking early by spending time at his father’s Italian restaurant in San Francisco. He has worked in hotels for the past twelve years and prior to moving to Madison in 2006 was the executive chef for five years at the Embassy Suites in Denver, Colorado. He studied at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

Charles manages the day-to-day food and beverage operations, which includes overseeing the Dayton Street Grille and banquet functions.

Past appearances include:

• Madison Magazine Food and Wine Show Dueling Chef competition (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Interview with 105.5 Triple M Radio Deli
• Cooking segment on 27 News Wake Up Wisconsin with Barbara Vaughan and Roland Beres
• American Liver Foundation Flavors of Madison (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Junior League of Madison Chefs For Change (2007)
• March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction (2006, 2007, 2008)