If you go
› What: “Celebrar Mexico”: Sculpture Fields third annual Train Ride Dinner Excursion› When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday› Where: Sculpture Fields, 1141 E. 23rd St.› Admission: $200› Phone: 266-7288
Whether he’s building a “Dagwood”-sized sandwich or a large steel sculpture, Chef Stretch does things big.
He’s a big personality on reality TV shows such as “Stretching the Limits,” “Chopped” or “Pitmasters,” and he brings that same energy when he’s talking on the phone. He’s a one-question interview, meaning all it takes is to ask him how things are going and he’s off and running for the next 10 minutes, talking about his world travels, the foods he’s sampled and the ways that art, food and music are connected.
“I’m a sculpture guy first and foremost that has found a niche in the food world,” says Stretch, whose full name is Jeff Rumaner. “I was tired of buying all my friends that are artists booze and food, so I opened a restaurant and it took off [Grinders in Kansas City].”
Stretch, who is good friends with the Food Network’s Guy Fieri and has appeared on “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” will be in town Thursday as the celebrity guest for the third annual Sculpture Fields Train Ride Dinner Excursion. The theme for the evening is “Celebrar Mexico,” and Stretch plans to prepare some sort of slider or smoked pork tostada with a mango or papaya chutney salsa. He also plans to bring his 25-gallon margarita machine.
Guests at the event will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment aboard the Chattanooga Museum Train. Stretch says he’s been to Chattanooga several times in the past to work with fellow sculpture and artist John Henry.
“I’ve known Stretch for 20-plus years through the sculpture world,” Henry says. “He has become quite multi-faceted, juggling restaurants celebrity tours making sculpture and exhibiting sculptures. He’s a busy guy. He’s an entertaining, energetic guy and, wherever he is, there is excitement.”
Funds raised from the train ride will go toward the Sculpture Fields, located at the site of the former Montague Park ballfield at 1141 E. 23rd St. The 33-acre city park includes an outdoor art museum, walking paths, parking and restrooms for visitors. Among the sculptures on display is a 100-ton concrete and steel piece commemorating the five slain service men killed in Chattanooga on July 16.
The way Stretch sees it, the idea of merging art and food is nothing new.
“History shows us that everything after a little while is combined to make something new,” he says. “You can use like hip-hop or rap or whatever, or you take different genres from Elvis to rockabilly to gospel or classical or like somebody like Frank Zappa who fuses everything together. When it comes to food every culture on the planet has food and when it comes to
“I’m a huge fan or believer that art, food and music cross all cultural boundaries. Wherever you go you can express yourself with art, food or music and not speak the language.”
For Stretch, food and dining should be a shared experience. He is far less concerned with the intricacies or ingredients of a dish as he is the love that went into making and serving it and the people he is with.
“For me, good food doesn’t necessarily have to be healthy,” he says. “Food is about a community to me. It’s about dialogue, current events – dog, family whatever. It comes down to service, environment and people.
“Sometimes everyone gets a little too pretentious sometimes they forget about basic needs. The common denominator for me is just the care and love that goes into it.”
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.