Restaurant Wars pits seven local eateries against one another in small plates contest

He’s keeping the menu a surprise.

But Kris Kilduff, creator of Spokane’s inaugural Restaurant Wars, was willing to drop a few hints.

“I’ve heard brisket,” he said. “I’ve heard gnocchi. I’ve heard pork belly.”

He won’t be any more specific about the seven small plates, one from each restaurant participating in Saturday’s first-time food fest. “We’re not going to announce (the menu) until the day of.”

Restaurant Wars aims to showcase Spokane’s local food scene. The new festival features the small-plate competition as well as a beer garden, live music, chef demonstrations and vendors.

“I had to make this event because I wanted to go to this event,” Kilduff said. “If I didn’t make it, it wouldn’t exist.”

The self-described “foodie to the core” is the marketer and promoter behind past local productions, including Spokane’s Top Model and Spokane’s Got Talent. He’s organizing his first food-related event with Jennifer Evans of Encore Events and said he was inspired by events such as Bite of Seattle and Feast Portland as well as reality TV contests.

“We’re trying to celebrate people who create good food here locally,” Kilduff said. “We want to celebrate cool, local, artisan food.”

Chefs were given free rein in creating the small plates to present Saturday.

“We’re really leaving it open to them,” Kilduff said. “We said show us your chef style.”

Judges are Chad White of Zona Blanca and “Top Chef,” Pete Taylor of Spiceologist and Pete Tobin of Inland Northwest Culinary Academy at Spokane Community College. Ticket holders will also get to cast their votes via text message.

Only one winner will be named. The award will be presented at 8 p.m.

Participating chefs are Tyler Schwenk of 1898 Public House, Molly Patrick of the Blackbird, Travis Dickinson of Clover, Patrick Fescher of Hay J’s Bistro, Kadra Evans of Lantern Tap House, JD Leonetti of Prohibition Gastropub, and Adam Hegsted of Wandering Table.

There’s room for up to 45 vendors. A week before the fest, about 30 were signed up. The plan is to set them up in tents like the regular Wednesday Night Market in Kendall Yards with booths lining West Summit Parkway.

“We want to keep the market feel,” Kilduff said. And, “We want to keep it affordable.”

Admission is free. But it costs $17 to sample fare from all seven eateries. Instead of tickets, customers will receive bracelets with tabs that can be redeemed at the restaurant booths. Up to 1,500 bracelets will be sold.

In recent weeks, Kilduff has also been planting “golden tickets” at some of his favorite local restaurants. He’s been leaving photos as hints on the Restaurant Wars Facebook event page and said he’s enjoyed having “people racing to restaurants to get them.”

The beer garden is sponsored by Hopped Up Brewing, No-Li Brewhouse, River City Brewing, Elysian Brewing and Georgetown Brewing.

An after-party takes place immediately following the fair at the Onion in downtown Spokane. Specialty desserts and dessert drinks will available a la carte.

Meanwhile, Kilduff is already planning for next year’s event.

“We’re gonna do bigger,” he said. “We want to turn this into the Spokane food and alcohol festival.”