Iowa Pork Taste of Elegance to Have Its 22Nd Annual Competition

Jan. 11, 2012

Contact:

Alison Swanson, Marketing and Programs Director

(800) 372-7675,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

Iowa Pork Producers Association to hold annual Taste of Elegance

(CLIVE, Iowa) — The Iowa Pork Producers Association Restaurant and Foodservice Committee will hold its annual Iowa Pork Taste of Elegance on Jan. 23 at the downtown Des Moines Marriott.

Eleven of Iowa’s top chefs will put their best original pork entrees on the line for the right to be named Chef Par Excellence in this exciting and elegant culinary competition. The goal of the contest is to inspire new and innovative ways to menu pork at the state’s best restaurants.

A visiting chef from Manitoba, Canada, also is competing, but only for the People’s Choice Award.

A panel of three food industry professionals will taste and critique each entrée. The winners of the competition will be selected on the taste, originality and presentation of their entrée.

In addition to Chef Par Excellence, the 2nd and 3rd place chefs will receive Superior Chef and Premier Chef honors. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three chefs and the winner will be invited to compete in the national Taste of Elegance contest in the spring. At the conclusion of the event, one of the chefs will receive the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by the invited guests.

The Iowa Pork Taste of Elegance reception is an invitation-only event, but anyone is welcome to attend. Interested persons can contact IPPA’s Alison Swanson at (800) 372-7675. The event is semi-formal and invited guests can enjoy samples of the various pork entrees, hors d’oeuvres and fine wines from six Iowa wineries.

The 2012 Iowa Pork Taste of Elegance reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is being emceed by WHO Radio’s Bob Quinn.

The competition is open to any restaurant or chef in the state.

The 2012 contestants are:

Chef Aaron KingDos Rios/Big City Burgers & Greens/Catering DSMDes Moines

Chef Patricia WeidnerPrairie Meadows Racetrack & CasinoAltoona

Chef Rick BeaulieuBev’s On The RiverSioux City

Chef Jon NelsonDiamond Jo CasinoDubuque

Chef Ephraim MalagTournament Club of IowaPolk City

Chef Rob ThomasManitoba

Chef Justin ScardinaLa Rana BistroDecorah

Chef Andrew James WeisCaroline’s Restaurant/Hotel JulianDubuque

Chef Bryan ManningHotel Fort Des Moines/Raccoon River Brewing Co.Des Moines

Chef Robert DayThe Faithful Pilot Café & SpiritsLe Claire

Chef Henry RodriguezOtis & Henry’s Bar & GrillWaterloo

Chef Daniel AnkrumArt House CaféWaterloo

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