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Hell's Kitchen Bodega Goods Will Be Whipped Into Top Cuisine at Competition

By Gwynne Hogan | October 22, 2015 11:52am
 The Bodega Challenge is this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Perdition on Tenth Ave.
The Bodega Challenge is this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Perdition on Tenth Ave.
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Bodega Challenge/Facebook

HELLS KITCHEN — Meatballs made from spam and beef jerky. Rice balls stuffed with canned octopus and jalapeños.

These are just two of the creations on deck from chefs getting ready to compete in this Saturday's Bodega Challenge, where competitors have to whip up an inventive dish using only ingredients from one of four pre-approved Hell's Kitchen bodegas.

The cook-off will be held at the bar Perdition at 692 Tenth Avenue at 4:00 p.m. And for would-be competitors, there's still time to sign up to cook a dish, or just go for a tasting. 

Two longtime Hell's Kitchen residents came up with the scheme this January, while they were drunk in a bar, one of the organizers admitted. 

"The prizes are silly — it's like a bodega candle and a brick of Bustelo, that type of stuff," said Elizabeth Moss, 45, one of the organizers. 

The challenge is not to make some "kitschy, crappy" dish, Moss said, but actually make something you'd want to eat. 

"You can take a junky can of Goya...and really try to make something interesting and delicious," she said. 

"Historically in this neighborhood and so many neighborhoods, the bodega was all they had," she said. "It's 2:00 in the morning and your starving, you realized actually you could make something delicious. I don't have to go out and buy a bag of chips."

Chefs can win prizes for presentation, creativity and taste. If you want to sign up, "like" Bodega Challenge on Facebook, then message the organizers.

Contestants should show up to Perdition 4:00 p.m. on Saturday with their dish ready. 

If you want to taste the creations and vote for the "People's Choice" winner, tickets are $5 at the door.

Tons of local business including Amy's Bread, Sullivan Street Bakery, Crispin's, West Side Steakhouse and Brooklyn Kitchen have donated gift cards for a raffle. Tickets are $1.

All proceeds from the drinks, tickets and raffle earnings will be donated to the food pantry at Holy Cross Church on 42nd Street, Moss said.