In a sizzling Saturday showdown at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket, Chef Joey Leuze, master and operator of Palm Beach Catering, seared the competition to snag the Master Chef Showcase title. The award was handed out by Mayor Keith A. James at the City Commission Meeting on Monday, April 29. However, Chef Leuze was cooking up business elsewhere and couldn't grace the event with his presence, so the honor was received instead by his colleague, Chef Manfred Schmidtke.

Serving up an inventive duck dish that was cooked in six unique ways, the judging panel couldn't resist crowning Leuze the top toque. Info provided by City of West Palm Beach detailed that Leuze cut his teeth in his mom's French eatery back in Germany before making waves as a yacht chef along the upscale shores of the French Riviera. Leuze's signature culinary style weaves together European flair with the freshest of local farm produce, which he had been tirelessly gleaning from the GreenMarket.

Competitor Chef Eddie Zapil from Fern Street Wine Bar & Kitchen didn't walk away empty-handed – leaving with a silver medal and honors for his culinary prowess. Mayor James praised the inaugural event for shining the spotlight on the talent piping hot in the local food scene: "This competition was an incredible opportunity to highlight and support the chefs behind our GreenMarket vendors and local restaurants," he said, as reported by the City of West Palm Beach.

The culinary clash kicked off on the GreenMarket's Opening Day last October, turning up the heat once a month through the season. Chefs went knife-to-knife over pre-selected proteins like chicken, pork, beef, or fish; dropped on them without warning on the day of the competition. The finale gave Chef Joey and Chef Eddie full creative license. Mary Pinak, West Palm Beach Community Events Manager, lauded the event, "The event created an incredible sense of community among the chefs and fans who witnessed their culinary geniuses at work," she told City of West Palm Beach.