Game Day Dinner Crowns 2026 Master Chef and Supports Hospitality Scholarship

Regional

Sep 16

PHOTO CAPTION: Top Amateur Chef Karen McGovern-Graham, left, with Game Day Master Chef 2026 Brad Nitsche of Randy’s Fireside.

OLEAN – The Professional Chefs Game Day Dinner at Napoli Pizza on September 13th brought together regional culinary talent, community members, and plenty of game-day spirit, all in support of the Greater Olean Hospitality Scholarship Fund.

Brad Nitsche, chef at Randy’s Fireside, earned the title of Game Day Master Chef 2026 with his pulled pork mac and cheese. Nitsche said two of Randy’s Fireside’s popular dishes inspired his entry.

“Our pulled pork nachos and our mac and cheese are both very popular, so I thought putting them together might be a winning combination,” Nitsche said. “It’s also perfect tailgate food. You don’t need a knife. Just put it in a cup or bowl and dig in.”

This year’s competition also featured a new twist when Grand Slam generously offered its spot to a local celebrity competitor. Karen McGovern-Graham stepped up to the plate with her macaroni and cheese and won the crowd vote, earning the title of Top Amateur Chef.

Ed Kincaid of Napoli Pizza, who also serves on the event planning committee, said the gathering demonstrates what can happen when local businesses and residents come together for a common cause.

“This has really become a community event,” Kincaid said. “The restaurants bring their best, people come out ready to have a good time, and together we’re raising money that will help a local student pursue a future in hospitality. It’s great to see the community rally around both our local restaurants and the next generation of the industry.”

For the third consecutive year, the event sold out all 100 tickets, welcoming approximately 200 people and continuing the community’s strong support for the friendly culinary competition and scholarship.

Guests sampled an impressive lineup of dishes from area restaurants, including:

• The Spot 2 Be – Bananas Foster

• Clark’s Subs – Backyard BBQ Tacos and Italian Sub Sliders

• J Allen’s – Cheesecakes

• Angee’s Restaurant – Chicken Parmesan

• Brothers Bistro – Beef Tenderloin Medallions

• Moose’s Hardwood BBQ – Broken Lasagna Noodle Soup

• Beef-N-Barrel – Beef on Weck Sliders

Newcomers to this year’s event included Taco Inc. and The Wing, while past participating restaurants also returned to the table with grape leaves from Attard’s Restaurant and Texas hots from Downtown Deli.

Five students studying hospitality and culinary arts at Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES also participated in the event, serving food, bussing tables, and interacting with guests. Their involvement provided an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world hospitality setting while connecting with professionals working in the local industry.

Beyond the food, guests enjoyed an afternoon of activities and fundraising, including the new Grand Slam Wheel of Fortune, two football pools, a 50/50 drawing, and a tailgate raffle.

Grand Slam sponsored the Wheel of Fortune raffle, with prizes generously donated by Blushing Rose Bed & Breakfast in Hammondsport, Holiday Inn Express, Glenn Zweygardt Sculptures, Deb and Hank Post, Karen and Scott Graham, Grand Slam, and Beach House Salon.

Grand prize winners included Carson Gumtow, who took home the $3,000 cash grand prize; Cameron Howard, winner of a 55-inch flat-screen television; and Jim and Judy O’Dea, winners of $150 cash.

“It was an incredible day filled with creativity, community spirit, and plenty of game-day flavor,” said Susan and Joe Marra of the Greater Olean Hospitality Committee. “We are grateful to every chef, restaurant, guest, sponsor, and volunteer who helped make the event such a success. Most importantly, the community’s support has allowed us to reach our goal of endowing the Hospitality Scholarship, ensuring that future students will have an opportunity to pursue their dreams in an industry that is so important to our region.”

The award presented to Chef Nitsche carries a unique piece of Olean’s hospitality history. Crafted from material cut from the Hospitality Monument, the award features the silhouette of a fork, knife, and spoon. Much like the Stanley Cup, it travels each year to the winning chef’s restaurant. Nitsche also received a Cutco cleaver and a $100 cash prize.

The committee also presented a special recognition award to longtime volunteer Meme Yanetsko for her behind-the-scenes support of the Greater Olean Hospitality Committee and its events, dating back to the Taste of Olean. The award was crafted from wood from the historic Theodore Roosevelt tree that once stood in Olean’s Lincoln Park.

The event was organized by the Greater Olean Hospitality Committee: Susan and Joe Marra, Anthony Fratercangelo, Tony Procacci, Deb Bess, and Ed Kincaid.

The committee traces its roots to the Taste of Olean Hospitality Wall of Fame. After the Taste of Olean concluded, committee members raised funds to create the Hospitality Monument in Olean, celebrating the history and lasting contributions of the local hospitality industry.

With the monument project complete, the committee turned its attention to establishing and endowing the Greater Olean Hospitality Scholarship. The scholarship will annually benefit a local student pursuing a career in hospitality, creating a lasting connection between the industry’s past and those who will carry it into the future.

To support the Greater Olean Hospitality Scholarship Fund, visit bit.ly/46ErVMO. For more information, contact Susan and Joe Marra at 716-244-1371 or sjmarra@gmail.com.