Bread pudding cook-off planned in memory of Amazing Grace co-owner

Duaine “Chip” Stewart used to give away bags of leftover bread from Amazing Grace Cafe and Bakery, sustaining college students and cafe patrons for years.

The owner’s longtime friend and customer, Bill Long, once suggested that he use the bread to make trays of bread pudding. It never happened, but the two talked often about holding a bread

pudding cook-off at the cafe with entries from area restaurants.

Stewart died of cancer in October at age 61. On Sunday, his idea of a cook-off will be carried out by Long, cafe employees and Canal Park businesses. The free event, called “Chip Ahoy” in reference to his love of sailing, will include live music and several renditions of bread pudding.

“He wanted to bring music to the community and bring people together,” Long said. “The idea was to do it in the middle of winter when everybody gets so bored and tired. … This is that vision carried out.”

The Blue Heron Trading Co., Famous Dave’s, Lake Avenue Cafe, Hell’s Burgers, Grandma’s Restaurant Co., Kirk Bratrud of the former Boathouse Restaurant and other “bread pudding artisans” will

participate. To partake in the spoils of the friendly competition, bring a nonperishable food item or a cash donation for local food shelves.

Blue Heron owner Jane Jenkins will prepare “blueberry maple bread pudding with lemon whipped cream” from the Gunflint Lodge Cookbook. The Blue Heron always has resided in the same building as the cafe, which opened in 1995.

“It’s a good fundraiser in memory of Chip,” Jenkins said.

Stewart, who owned the cafe with his life partner, Marcie Stoyke, was a lover of comfort food. Toward the end of his life he would say he could eat whatever he wanted, and he indulged in hot fudge sundaes for dinner and piles of garlic mashed potatoes, said cafe manager Ronnie Eastling.

But he also loved helping those in need, whether it was by giving employment to people who had a hard time finding jobs, or giving money and food.

“Part of what this place is all about is giving back and helping those less fortunate,” Eastling said. “This was his family. This was home.”

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