WHAT: Ten chefs from around the country will compete in the 2nd annual Farm to Table Chefs Taste Challenge.
WHEN: Friday, August 19 – 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Great Hall of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
WHY: Ten chefs from various geographical regions across the United States will compete to create the best dish that utilizes farm-fresh items from a pantry of both seasonal local ingredients and products donated by State Agricultural Departments. Attendees will enjoy tasting portions of each chef’s creation and will vote on a “Fan Favorite.”
The dishes will also be judged by a panel of industry-renowned judges, including Tory McPhail, Executive Chef of Commander’s Palace; Marcelle Bienvenu, Chef, Author, and Instructor at the John Folse Culinary Institute; Gary Prell, Vice President Culinary Development, Centerplate; Izabela Wojcik, Director of House Programming, The James Beard Foundation; and Chef Nedra Harris, Author and former “Hell’s Kitchen” competitor. Chef Kevin Belton of the New Orleans School of Cooking and the PBS show “New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton” will emcee.
One of the ten chefs is based in New Orleans: Chef Eric Cook, Centerplate at the WWII Museum.
The top two dishes will receive Gold and Silver Chefs Taste Challenge awards, and all 10 selected chefs will receive national recognition for their participation in the Chefs Taste Challenge.
WHO: The following chefs will compete in the Chefs Taste Challenge:
- Nicholas Calias, The Colonnade Hotel & Brasserie Jo Boston, MA
- Henry Chandler, Henry’s Louisiana Grill Acworth, GA
- Eric Cook, American Sector New Orleans, LA
- Mark Henry, Brother Luck Street Eats Fountain, CO
- Clint Jolly, Great Thyme Catering Reno, NV
- Alexa Lemley, 240sweet Artisan Foodworks Columbus, IN
- Leonardo Maurelli, III, Ariccia Trattoria at The Hotel at University of Auburn Auburn, AL
- Chef Plum, Plumluvfoods Newtown, CT
- David Ruiz, Pueblo Harvest Café Albuquerque, NM
- Lee Anne Wong, KH Restaurants Honolulu, HI
For more info, visit chefstastechallenge.com.
