Shorewood Man Named Finalist in Hottest Kitchen Entrepreneur Challenge

Marcus Thie,a Shorewood resident has been named a finalist in the Hottest Kitchen Entrepreneur Challenge, a regional contest to find the next great food business idea.

Finalists of this year’s Hottest Kitchen Entrepreneur Challenge have something in common – they all incorporate Wisconsin-made ingredients. This challenge to find Wisconsin’s next great food entrepreneur is sponsored by Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Reliable Water Services a local provider of commercial water heaters, boilers and water softeners and FaB Milwaukee, an industry network for the food and beverage cluster of SE Wisconsin.

Aspiring chefs and home cooks entered by submitting a short application and photo of their concept. Finalists were selected based on the originality and viability of their concept and appearance based on an initial photo.

Thie's entry was Tomato Choka, a Trinidad-inspired recipe packed with flavor and nutrients. He wants to launch StreetBeet, a food truck where he can promote locally grown food and showcase organic recipes featuring his sauce line.

The other two finalists include:

•Andrew Bechaud– Milwaukee, Wis. – Bechaud Elixing Co., a line of handcrafted small batch beverages made with Wisconsin agricultural ingredients. Tempting flavors include Chocolate Chai Veloute and Spring Blossom Cherry Soda. His dream is to start a small production facility and sell to local upscale grocers such as Sendik’s or Whole Foods.

•Pete Cooney –Milwaukee, Wis. – Pete’s Pops - Handcrafted Ice Pops, a frozen treat made with fresh fruits and natural sugars in flavors like Strawberry Basil and Pineapple Jalapeno. Cooney wants to produce through a commercial kitchen, start selling via a push cart at local events and ultimately distribute through area grocers.

Finalists will compete for the grand prize in a Food Network-style judging event at MATC’s student-run restaurant Cuisine located at 1015 N. 6th St on the MATC campus on Wednesday, July 31th at 3 p.m.

The grand prize winner will receive $2,500 in seed money from Reliable Water Services; a comprehensive entrepreneurial consultation package from MATC; $500 of professional cookware from Boelter Superstore and a two-hour private meeting with food industry executives serving on FaB Milwaukee’s Advisory Council.

Judges for the contest include:

•Jan Kelly, owner and chef, Meritage restaurant, Milwaukee
•Angela West, co-founder/publisher, Alcoholmanac Magazine, Milwaukee
•Betsy Gilmore, general manager, Bel Air Cantina/Wauwatosa
•Jack Kaestner, chef instructor for Milwaukee Area Technical College
•Lynn Sbonik, co-owner of Beans & Barley Deli, Market & Full Service Café
•Eric Olesen, owner and president, O&H Danish Bakery of Racine
•Peter Gottsacker, president of Wixon, a manufacturer of seasonings, flavors, and technologies for the food, beverage, and meat industry.

“We were impressed with the level of creativity and passion of the many entries we received,” said contest judge Eric Olesen, owner and president of O &H Danish Bakery and council co-chair for FaB Milwaukee. “Our three finalists stood out as having concepts that would not only be delicious but also marketable in our community.”

Milwaukee Area Technical College
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and the most diverse two-year institution in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Approximately 50,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community.

About Reliable Water Services
Reliable Water Services provides water heaters, boilers and water softeners to Indiana apartment building owners, restaurants and commercial enterprises where a steady supply of hot water is essential to business operations. The company currently has 3,500 customers in the Midwest and offices in Milwaukee and Indianapolis. More information is available at www.HotWater247.com.

FaB Milwaukee
FaB Milwaukee's mission is to make the Milwaukee Region an easy place to innovate, start, expand or locate your food and beverage business and enjoy a rewarding industry career, from producers to processors to our plate.