'Iron Chef' giving BBQ lesson to a lucky dad

With Father's Day just a few weeks ago, the head chef at Red's Old 395 Grill is firing up to share some barbecue tips with a lucky dad.

The "Fired Up for Father's Day" contest offers a "Que With Your Kids" package that includes a private barbecue lesson with Head Chef Jose Rivera as well as family time dining on the dish they prepare together. And Dad gets to choose what goes on the grill.

Chef Rivera, a native of El Salvador, knows a few things about cooking. As a young man, he became assistant chef to two famous chefs in Los Angeles, Michelle Richard and Jose LaBalch. He later studied culinary arts at L'ecoffier Culinary School while serving as assistant chef at the renowned Saddle Peak Lodge in Los Angeles.

During that time, Rivera met Jack Sterling and Al Ehringer, who told him to check out Carson City and if he liked the community, they'd like him to open Red's Old 395 in Carson City. He did. So July 6, 1999, Red's opened their doors with Rivera as head chef.

A few years later, in 2003, Rivera beat out four chefs, including one from Italy, to win the Iron Chef Competition at the Reno Event Center. His prize-winning recipe was for a baby scallop salad.

As big a compliment as winning, was when a judge told him was going to add Rivera's scallop salad to his own restaurant menu.

"I never expected to win the contest," Rivera said Tuesday before the lunch rush began. "It was nice for me, a different experience."

A dad himself, Rivera and his wife Olympia have three grown children. His son Mark is serving in the U.S. Air Force and he has two daughters, Danielle and Kathryn.

As Red's, Rivera cooks up a variety of entres including salads, pasta, pizza, and sandwiches, but the specialty is house specialty is barbecue and "Iron Chef" Rivera is happy to share his experience.

"It's fun," he said. "The hardest is staging, then everything comes easy."

To enter Red's Fired Up for Father's Day contest, dads can bring their family to Red's Old 395 Grill on Father's Day and receive one raffle ticket per person in their party. The winner will be drawn and contacted on June 21 and the barbecue lesson scheduled.

Red's Old 395 is located at 1055 S. Carson St., Carson City. Call 775-887-0395 for more information, or go to www.reds395.com.