Dave Avalos

CHEF CHALLENGE

Ready to cook Mexican, but you're tired of the same old tacos and burritos?

Our next Virtual Chef, Dave Avalos, is ready to prove Mexican cuisine is not all about refried beans and greasy ground beef. All you have to do is to vote for your favorite Mexican ingredients at right before 1 p.m. Thursday. We'll compile the results, and turn them over to Avalos, who will create a Mexican-influenced dish Friday.

As a second-generation Mexican-American who grew up in Los Angeles, Avalos knows how to use chiles, beans and other staples of Mexico. Although his restaurant, Chokolate Morel in Mason, isn't Mexican, several of his dishes, such as roasted lamb with poblano mole and green chile mesa grits, are Latin-inspired.

So remember: Vote for your favorite flavors before 1 p.m. Thursday. And if you feel adventurous, give us your e-mail address so we can invite you to sample the chef's cooking. Who knows, maybe there'll be music, too.

Chuck Martin

Previous chefs:

Chef: David Falk, Boca
Score: 100 of 106 points
Dish: Grilled Salmon with Cremini-Spinach-Asparagus "Risotto di Penne" and Anchovy-Wine-Garlic Emulsion.
See the recipe

Chef: Roxanne Yoho
Score: 98.2
Dish: Chicken Peprone
See the recipe

Chef: Steven Raichlen
Score: 99
Dish: Grilled flank steak with wasabi sauce, grilled Cajun asparagus, grill-roasted potatoes, grilled portabella mushrooms stuffed with pine nuts and garlic and grill-roasted Vidalias stuffed with blue cheese and pine nuts
See the recipes

Chef: Kristy Schalck
Score: 90.4
Dish: Farmer's Market Gazpacho
See the recipes