It’s like World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) fights, but with food. In its annual tradition, Brandeis will be competing in the “Battle of the Chefs,” a Sodexo sponsored event. Brandeis’ Senior Executive Chef Ken Peckham is gearing up for battle. 

Rose Forrest, an area executive chef for Northeast universities from Sodexo told The Brandeis Hoot in an interview that executive chefs from Dean College, Suffolk University Boston, Boston University, University of Massachusetts Boston and, of course, Brandeis will be preparing dishes for students to taste. 

She added that this event has been happening ever since she has been working with Sodexo and is a good opportunity for chefs to travel to different schools to showcase their culinary skills. “Chefs are able to collaborate with each other, create some good dishes and be able to show their talents,” Forrest explained. “And for the students to get something different and new.”

The hosting school for the battle changes each year. Brandeis last hosted the competition three years ago, according to Forrest. The last time the event occurred at Brandeis, there was a huge turnout and chefs almost ran out of food. 

Peckham explained in an interview that all students who taste dishes will be given a paper ballot and will be able to vote for their favorite dish. Each of the different executive chefs will be preparing small portions of their dish for students to try.

“Obviously I want the students to come and vote for Brandeis,” he said. “But we want them to visit the other booths. I’m friends with most of the other chefs anyway, so a little friendly competition is always fun.” 

The winning dish will give the winning executive chef bragging rights for the rest of the year until next year’s battle.

Forrest and Peckham are anticipating that over 1000 students will be coming through the battlegrounds to taste and vote for their favorite dish. Forrest added that the theme for the battle this time around is fall-themed. 

Peckham will be preparing a traditional Moroccan lamb stew served on a bed of dried fruit couscous. There will also be a vegetarian option which is a Moroccan chickpea stew. “I wanted to do [this dish] because lamb is a dish that usually does not get served because of price and cost,” Peckham told The Hoot. 

Forrest also explained that most schools will be providing a vegetarian/vegan option in addition to the meat-based option in case students have specific dietary restrictions. 

Sodexo will also be serving fresh fried dough and hot apple cider outside Usdan to attract students to come to the event. The battle will be held on Oct. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Upper Usdan. 

A full menu for dishes prepared by all schools is below:

UMass Boston: Pastelito de Cordero

• Puerto Rican puff pastry stuffed with lamb, cream cheese, mascarpone, curry, raisins, cilantro, onions, and garlic and deep fried

Boston University: Chick Brunswick Stew with Hushpuppies, Apple Brownies and Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Suffolk University Boston: Chicken Tikka Masala Taco with Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

• Chicken tikki masala with red cabbage, onion and cilantro lime slaw in a naan taco with a cilantro lime dressing
• A vegan curry taco is also being offered: vegan “chick’n” with curry sauce and red cabbage, onion and cilantro lime slaw in a naan taco

Brandeis University: Moroccan Lamb Stew with Dried Fruit Couscous

• A Moroccan Chickpea Stew is being offered as a vegetarian substitute 

Dean College: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Saffron sauce and Crostini and Apples with Caramel