Tag Archives: chopped

PROFILE / Lorenzo Gaudioso

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Lorenzo is the horizontal guy in the photo.

If Land Rover made an aircraft would you fly in it?   Why/Why Not?

Only if it was first serviced by Lars Vigen over at Madison Motor Works…that way there is a better chance that it won’t go down, and if it did at least

Tell us a little about your background, your career, and where you live.

I’m an Italian/American originally from Bridgeport, CT and relocated to a little town in Litchfield County where my Landy has plenty of room to play. I am a Certified Financial Planner™ and I focus on investment strategies for companies and individuals that are strategic by design and tax efficient by purpose (because hey, if they are going to justify tax dollars being spent to crush Rovers then why give them any more tax dollars than you have to?). I know a lot about food, wine and travel and piece, by piece I’m learning how to fix up my Disco (practice for a IIA)

How many Land Rovers have you owned and which was your favorite?

This is my second Rover. I had a Range Rover P38 named Gertrude. We had a love/hate relationship. Mainly because of a fried ECU which controlled the switch from Hi-Low and an affair she had with the 3 Amigos…still hate those guys. I now have a 97′ Discovery.


I’m getting through her at a snail’s pace but it is a fun trip. She is a work horse on the farm and starts up every time…which why I forgive her for her leaky sunroof and lack of foot wells (rusted through). But I can say that her lack external beauty is made up for by her will to live. The question is will she end up as a camper or as a mobile kitchen for future Muddy Chef events? I loved them both for different reasons.

What’s the best thing about owning a Land Rover?

When I first bought Gertrude it was all about getting from one place to another no matter what the weather. While she proved herself through the winter of ’13 it became more than that. I love the community. It is like a fraternity of owners. Most have gone through the trials and tribulations of owning a Landy. Those folks also know it is about how they look when covered with mud and not when they are covered with wax. It is about a friendly wave to a fellow owner or knowing that an owner stuck in a ditch has a very good chance of being pulled out by another owner (try doing that in the Prius club)

What’s the worst thing about owning a Land Rover?

They are never “done”.

Been on an adventure? – tell us about it

My only adventure has been to the 2015 Muddy Chef over at Lime Rock. It was my initiation into the community. It took about 30 seconds for my neighbors to come over and introduce themselves and within a minute they were helping with my gear and offering up all the tools I had forgotten. By the time the first campfire died out in the little hours of the morning I knew I was hooked.

How do you plan to beat the competition this year at the Muddy Chef Challenge?

In 2015 I came very ill prepared. I had no idea what to expect. That being said me and my cousin formed “The Cooking Cousins” and took home the trophy for the iron-chef portion. We also teamed up with Co-Bro’s to take home an award for the Muddy Chef portion. This year I plan to have a lot of fun, be more organized and cook what I want to eat and what I want my fellow Landy Owners to enjoy. I’d love to take home the trophy again but this year I’m committed to meet more great people, make memories and smoke more cigars.

If you could ask Land Rover for a particular type of vehicle what would it be?

A new Series. Leave the yuppie bells and whistles out of it (leave the A/C in). 30 Grand, leave the top off, factory snorkel extra fogs and a winch, It doesn’t need to get over 80 mph but if it could get to 55 in a hurry all the better.

What upgrades/modifications does your Land Rover have?

It’s the HSE package which gave it a lift out of the factory and apparently it is a big deal that it has chrome bumpers. Previous owner upgraded the stereo but not much else. First I’ll get it proper, then I’ll work on special.

If you were on safari which three (living or dead or fictional) people would you pick to bring along?

Tough one. I’d want Lars Vigen around because let’s face it…there is a good chance that something is going to break on a Landy so having someone around who can fix it is awesome. It would be even better if the Safari was driven in his truck.

Eric Yohe because for some reason good cigars and bourbon always seem to follow him. Let’s face it…no good story started with “while we were drinking water and chewing gum…”.

Finally, my cousin Tonino as long as he left his cell phone home. He is a good shot with a rifle if things get hairy, is a good cook (the other half of the Cooking Cousins), is funny as hell after a few scotches and he would never let me live it down if I left him home.

Iron Muddy Chef Competition / Friday July 31, 2015

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The Iron Muddy Chef Challenge was held on the beautiful grounds of the Millbrook Vineyard in Millbrook, NY.  The Iron Muddy Chef Challenge is similar to the Food Networks TV show “Chopped”   On Chopped and at the Iron Muddy Chef – contestants are faced with a box of mystery ingredients.  They have no idea what they will be cooking.  For the Iron Muddy Chef contest this year, the main ingredients were – fresh Brook Trout, a large Pineapple, two artichokes, and a large can of Spam.  The primary difference between Chopped the IMCC is that we completely REMOVE THE KITCHEN.   Competitors must use only what they can carry in their Land Rover.  They must prepare, cook and serve in the field.  Contestants are given 50 minutes to prepare their dishes.

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IRON MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE – THREE SPOTS REMAINING!

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THREE, count em’ THREE spots remain to participate in the IRON MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE.  If you forgot, bumped your head or just plain never heard about it – let me school you.

WHEN:

Friday July 31, 2015

WHERE:

Millbrook Vineyard and Winery

Millbrook grapes logo

WHAT:

In the style of the Food Network’s CHOPPED TV show.  Competitors are give a mystery basket of food and must prepare a delicious gourmet meal in 50 minutes.  The catch?  You don’t know what’s in the basket.  The cost per team is estimated to be $50.00

Chopped from The Food Network

WE provide you with the food and access to a pantry of shared ingredients (example – flour, salt, pepper, spices, heavy cream, garlic, etc, etc.)  YOU provide the Land Rover and everything you need to cook with inside it.  We provide the location for the challenge – The breathtaking Millbrook Vineyard and Winery and YOU cook.

Do you have what it takes?

Can you win the Iron Muddy Chef Challenge?

Will you go on to dominate the Muddy Chef Challenge on Saturday?

You will never know if you don’t sign up.  Seven brave souls already have.  Time’s running out!

Want in?  Email info@muddychef.com for your chance to win fantastic prizes and glory!

Land Rover lovers, it’s the Muddy Chef Challenge at Lime Rock; created by Madison man

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Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2014

By Sarah Page Kyrcz
Suzipage1@aol.com

 

 

Above, 1982 Land Rover 109 Stage 1, owned by James Wollschlager of Mystic. Photo by Eric Archer of Warwick, R.I.

LAKEVILLE >> Calling all Land Rover enthusiasts. Pack up your oriental rugs, leather chairs, Land Rover flags and signs, gourmet grub, camp grills and lots and lots of gusto and head up to Lime Rock Park for a weekend of off road adventure, fine food and drink and lots of camaraderie.

The Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge 3 is an adventurous weekend for Land Rover drivers who want to push their vehicle to the limits in rivers, over mountains and through woods, all under supervision, of course. No wonder its founder calls it “part Great Race and Iron Chef.”Planned for July 31 through Aug. 3, Land Rovers will descend upon Lime Rock Park and spend the weekend at area venues and proving what rugged, sturdy vehicles they really are built to be.Muddy Snack from Christopher Macecsko on Vimeo.

Preregistration is required at http://muddychef.com/.

Aside from a camping fee of $35 a night, the event is free. Proceeds from a weekend raffle will benefit Autism Speaks, for more info visit http://www autismspeaks.org#sthash.iaELlP2p.dpuf.

“Land Rovers are your sort of rugged, safari, adventure-type vehicle,” says event creator Eric Yohe. As an owner of an unrestored, 1961 Land Rover Series IIA, the Madison resident is passionate about all things Land Rover and is a foodie.

Yohe arranged the first Muddy Chef in Stowe, Vermont and went on to host last year’s event in Mystic. Bringing the road race/cook-off to Lime Rock was a natural progression and embraced by the park’s Director of Business Development Walter Irvine, another Land Rover enthusiast, and former owner of a Land Rover LR2, who enjoys the “culture.”

“Off-roaders (are) very adventurous, typically very philanthropic, really up to doing crazy stuff like off-roading all day and then coming back and putting on a blazer and making a gourmet meal AT their truck,” Irvine explains.

Cooking a gourmet repast is part of the challenge. Attendees may cook whatever they can transport in their Land Rover. The dishes are then judged by an esteemed panel of fellow epicureans. No one walks away hungry and everyone has lots of fun concocting what they think is the tops in haute cuisine.

“It’s exciting and it’s nerve-wracking and you have to adapt, but it’s tons of fun,” says Madison participant Kristen Feeney.

How do fresh Nantucket bay scallops on a bed of local roasted sweet corn sound? To Yohe it sounded like a winning entry last year. Alas, other venturesome gourmands apparently served entries better tasting, better presented and better liked by the judges.

Away from the rugged terrain, attendees will put on their best cocktail attire – blazers and shorts and Lilly Pulitzer shifts – and visit two local venues.

The Falls Village Inn, complete with a taproom designed to honor the Lime Rock legacy, is “intimate and comfortable…A feel that honors not only Falls Village, but also that of Lime Rock Park, our famous neighbor,” says their website, http://www thefallsvillageinn.com/taproom.php.

Up the road in Dutchess County, New York, a long winding road will take guests to the Madava Farms where Crown Maple Syrup is tapped and refined to make a one of a kind maple syrup. While feeling like they have entered a Napa Valley winery, guests may partake in a maple syrup tasting in a finely appointed tasting room complete with a copper bar, website: http://www.crownmaple.com/visit-madava-farms.

Some of the events sound outrageous: “For those of you who want super rock crawler, smashed body panel gnarly you have access to Old Florida Road and MaBelle in Western, MA,” according tomuddychef.com. Yet Yohe stresses there is something for everyone.

“What I like about it the most is, despite the stressful things you have going in your life you really can’t think about anything else in your life except how am I going to get this vehicle and myself through these woods, over this obstacle,” Robert Wollschlager says. “It’s fantastic.”

Wollschlager, of Mystic, will join in on the fun with his dad, James. They will bring two of their four Land Rovers – a 1972 Land Rover Series 3 88 and 1982 Series 3 Stage- 1 V8 109.

Each morning there will be vehicle inspections and safety talks. The only prerequisite is that “your vehicle should be in good repair without any serious frame rust and able to handle basic off-road challenges.”

“The majority of our vehicles are the rare ones, the early ’60s ones, the ’70s … the classic Land Rovers,” Yohe says. In addition, the event draws drivers of “the Defender, which is what you see on safari…we get lots of those.”

Every morning, before venturing out there will be vehicle inspections and safety talks. The only prerequisite is that “your vehicle should be in good repair without any serious frame rust and able to handle basic off-road challenges.”

In need of a break from the rigors of off-roading, guests can head over to Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds in Millbrook, New York to experience sporting clays at “the oldest permitted shotgun shooting club in the country,” they boast on http://www.orvis.com/sandanona.

Back on the road, how about the Overland Challenge in the Housatonic State Forest?

“It’s sort of a high-tech Easter egg hunt,” says Yohe. “Drive to a spot with the GPS, get out and use the compass to go in the direction we tell you to go, start walking and you will find what ever it is. Somewhere in that forest is something to find like an orange flip-flop nailed to a tree.”

Whether you are an experienced off-roader or want to try it for the first time, love adventure and the thrill of the ride, or want to spend a weekend in the country learn more at Facebook/The Muddy Chef Challenge.