Coeur d'Alene Casino chef wins CDAide challenge

WORLEY — Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel Executive Sous Chef Anthony Buttice may have won top culinary competition honors at CDAide’s Chef Challenge Oct. 14 at the Hagadone Event Center in Coeur d’Alene. But he knows the real winners are area hospitality workers.

“It’s an honor and very humbling to give back to local hospitality workers in need,” Buttice said. “We get to showcase our skill set while raising money for an amazing local charity.”

With dishes appraised by a panel of judges, this year’s Chef Challenge raised nearly $75,000 for CDAide’s Care, a Coeur d’Alene nonprofit that supports hospitality and restaurant workers facing financial crisis.

“These individuals are the backbone of our tourism economy, yet many live paycheck to paycheck,” said Jason Nye, CDAide executive director. “The funds we raise ensure they receive urgent assistance — housing, medical care, transportation — as well as support for long-term stability and well-being.”

CDAide works exclusively through referrals from managers, owners, co-workers, and others. Individuals cannot self-refer for services. The organization serves the greater Coeur d'Alene area, including Hayden, Rathdrum, and Post Falls.

Buttice won the Best Appetizer competition with his sesame-seared tuna, shallot ponzu reduction, with red ginger pearls. He also won a three-challenge competition. The challenges and format were as follows:

1st Challenge — Best Scrambled Eggs, using any ingredients in the pantry, 10-minute cook time.

2nd Challenge — 20-minute cook time, “Home Cook Basket," Chefs use the three items in the “Home Cook Basket” to show how to create something quickly with what guests may have on hand in their home. Chefs can use the full pantry for their dish. (Ingredients: ground chicken, Cheez-Its, and BBQ sauce)

Final Challenge — 30-minute cook time, Protein: Halibut, Challenge: Chefs create an upscale entree plate using cod and mystery ingredient chosen by audience (strawberry jello mix)

“It was a privilege to be involved with CDAide, a wonderful organization operated by talented, caring people,” Buttice said. “Knowing our peers will benefit from our combined efforts was truly incredible to experience.”