SAVE THE DATE - The 16th Annual Pennsylvania Taste of Elegance Chef Competition will be held on Monday, August 22, 2011 at Hampton Winds, Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennyslvania. Sponsored by the PA Pork Producers, the competition is also open to chefs in New Jersey.
What better way for a “foodie” to spend an evening than meeting chefs and sampling new recipes? The TASTE OF ELEGANCE competition, held on Monday, August 22, at Hampton Winds – The Gate Center, Northampton Community College (NCC), features 9 Top Chefs from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Last year’s event attracted over 150 people, raising over $2,200 for the Brian Ruth Scholarship: Brian was a former NCC culinary student. Due to the large attendance last year, reservations are strongly recommended: space is limited.
For reservations, go to http://www.northampton.edu/specialevents
Or, call 610-861-5519 for tickets in advance – $15 and at the door, $20: the entire fee is donated to the Brian Ruth Scholarship fund for a NCC culinary student. Local food lovers will see and taste the final entrees, meet the chefs, and enjoy several pork appetizers. NCC’s culinary students will prepare a variety of delicious appetizers: sausage and pepper stratas, mu shu pork wraps, BLT crostini with herb aioli, sweet and sour pork meatballs, and spice rubbed tenderloin with apple/pineapple chutney. Wine and beer tastings will be provided by California winery, Four Vines Wines and Allentown Beverages.
Doors open at 6 PM for the public. A food lover’s dream- meet the top chefs, taste and see the entrees, and enjoy other appetizers. Each chef prepares a pork entrée and is awarded points for taste, appearance and originality. Below is the schedule of events:
¨ Entrees are judged from 3-5 PM. This is closed to the media and the public.
¨ Doors open to the media and public at 6 PM.
¨ At 6:30 PM, a press conference to announce the winners
The first place chef receives $1,000 and an expense paid trip to the National TASTE OF ELEGANCE contest, which is held in spring of 2012. Last year’s winner, Chef Michael Brenfleck, of the Savory Grill will share his experience visiting the Culinary Institute of America in Greystone and working with celebrity chefs. This event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council and Leidy’s.
August, 2010 Press Release – Summary of Last Year’s Event
The TASTE OF ELEGANCE competition, held on Monday, August 23rd at Hampton Winds, Northampton Community College, featured 10 top chefs from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. According to Taste Coordinator, Denice Ferko-Adams, “This was our best event in both the quality of the chefs and the community support: over 150 people attended, raising over $2,200 for the Brian Ruth Scholarship.” This scholarship supports a student in the NCC culinary program
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council and Leidys, Chef Michael Brenfleck of the Savor Grille, Macumgie, won first place, $1,000 prize and will represent Pennsylvania in the 2011 national Taste of Elegance competition. Chef Robert Iannaccone, Brookside Country Club took 2nd place, $500 cash prize and Chef Tony Page, Emeril’s Chop House, Bethlehem, won 3rd place, $300 cash prize.
Judges included Chef Michael Giletto of Cherry Valley Country Club who also has appeared on the Food Network Chopped and several other television shows, Chef Mike Honeywell of Normandy Farms, Blue Bell, and Thom Adams, Director of the Culinary Arts program at the Career Institute of Technology.
Four Vines of Paso Robles, CA, provided wine pairings and Allentown Beverages featured beers. WFMZ Cooking at Sunrise and the Morning Call assisted in promoting this event.
Chef Duncan Howden and Chef Susan Roth and the culinary students prepared a variety of appetizers. The recent graduates of NCC’s program also competed in a “new chef” competition: Jonathan Glueck, Joshua Roman, and Richelle Pinto. To be part of the 2011 competition, please email denice@wellnesspress.com.
