Burke's Celebrity Chef Showdown Ignites Medinah Country Club!

Left to right: Chef Matthew Gilbert, Chef David Burke,  and General Manager/COO David Schneider.
Image by Nick Novelli.

A Night of Culinary Theater, Talent, and Thrills

Friday, April 24, marked the second installment of Burke's Celebrity Chef Showdown, and Medinah Country Club in Illinois delivered an unforgettable evening that raised the bar for club-driven culinary experiences. The series debuted in September 2025 at Montammy Golf Club in New Jersey—an event so successful it earned a mention in BoardRoom Magazine. This year, the momentum only grew.

Building a Vision for the Industry
Months of planning among Executive Chef Matthew Gilbert, Chef David Burke, and Golf Kitchen Magazine culminated in a night that blended entertainment, mentorship, and culinary excellence. After reconnecting with Chef Maxwell Shteyman of Montammy GC at the CMAA World Conference in Anaheim, Chef Gilbert and Chef Shteymann explored new ways to elevate the Showdown for the broader club industry. Medinah embraced that challenge wholeheartedly. And the result? A full-scale culinary spectacle.

Cocktails, Cameras, and Culinary Star Power
Guests arrived early for a lively walk-around cocktail party. Chef Burke held court beside his iconic Signature Hanging Bacon Rack, greeting members, signing menus, and posing for selfies. Inside the ballroom, the transformation was astonishing. The stage resembled a full Food Network production—complete with an expansive pantry, dramatic lighting, and all-important secret ingredients—massive screens broadcast every moment, including live Q&A sessions with members and guests.

General Manager / COO David Schneider, a natural showman, turned the evening into a full-blown rumble.

The Chefs Make Their Entrance
Chef Gilbert stormed into the ballroom to Metallica, high-fiving members as he made his way to the stage. Moments later, Chef Burke entered to Frank Sinatra's My Way, greeted by roaring applause. The Showdown was officially underway.

Dinner, Wine, and a Front Row Seat to the Action
As the competition heated up, members enjoyed a curated dinner with wine pairings by Taylor Nissen. The room buzzed with energy; no one dared leave their seat until the final moment.

A Narrow Victory and a Night to Remember
In a thrilling finish, Chef Gilbert edged out Chef Burke to claim the crown. Both chefs donned their toques and invited the entire room — members and staff — to autograph them—a perfect symbol of camaraderie and community. Chef Burke gifted his autographed signature knife sets to the judges and team members.

"Medinah went above and beyond making this a spectacular event! The Q & A was a great interaction as well." ~Chef David Burke

Spotlighting the Next Generation of Culinary Talent
One of Golf Kitchen's core missions is to highlight and attract rising young talent to the private club industry. Earlier this year, Chef Gilbert and I co-authored Invitations to the Kitchen: How Private Clubs Can Become Culinary Incubators for The National Club Association's (NCA) Club Director magazine, exploring how clubs can attract and retain young professionals.

In that spirit, Chef Gilbert brought two of his interns, Mary Priz and Ana Gomez, who were featured in the article, to the stage as sous-chefs for the competition. Their performance, poise, and creativity made the evening even more meaningful.
Experiences like this stay on a culinary résumé for life.

A Community Energized
Long after the plates were cleared, the celebration continued. Members and guests lingered, smiling, laughing, and sharing their reactions: "Wow," "Spectacular," "Unbelievable, "One of the best events at MCC," and "Standing room only, next year!"
The consensus was clear: clubs thrive when they create experiences that bring members and staff together, celebrate talent, and build community.

"What an experience cooking with a legend! Our goal is always to work to create unique and exciting experiences for our beloved membership, and this was a resounding success. In addition, we got to both celebrate our up-and-coming talent and also relive so many riveting stories from our dynamic industry together with one of its true O.G.'s: Chef David Burke! Club Kitchens are where it is happening for the future of exciting culinary careers." ~Chef Matthew Gilbert

Full Feature Coming Soon: The complete story—along with recipes, wine pairings, and a full photo spread—will appear in the May/Spring issue of Golf Kitchen Magazine.
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~Diana DeLucia