Cooking competitions have really surfaced in the past decade, drawing millions of viewers and pumping a longing for culinary talents into many lifestyles. While shows focused on professionals at first, they slowly transformed into featuring regular Joe Schmoe’s who, surprisingly, possess amazing skills in the kitchen. It was only a matter of time before one of these competitions was themed around the farm-to-table concept and it’s right here in our own backyard: Philadelphia.
Inspired by the building momentum of urban farming and gardening in this City of Brotherly Love, Philly’s Best Farm to Plate Chef is looking for four chefs to compete for the $1000.00 grand prize. The competition was created by LoveLovingLove Inc., a nonprofit serving the Philadelphia region to encourage healthy and local dining. Philly’s Best Farm to Plate Chef will be an entirely organic cooking competition, showcasing delicious ways to prepare local foods. The competition is also a fundraiser to build an earthship, a home that grows its own food. With places like the Emerald Street Garden and Philly Food Forests contributing pounds of fresh, organic food to inner city dwellers every year, the contestants should have no problem finding ingredients.
The cook-off will be judged by local and national celebrities, including Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams, a guest judge who is really looking forward to it. Other guest judges include Andrea Beaman, of Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars, and Gervace Peterson, of CBS’s Survivor. The competition, unfolding October 6th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center for Culinary Enterprises, will be hosted by 105.3 WDAS radio personality Patty Jackson.
If you’re interested in entering the contest you may submit an original recipe of six ingredients or less, and a $50 application fee via PayPal to; [email protected]. You can also drop off or mail entries to LoveLovingLove Inc. c/o Philly’s Best Farm to Plate Chef, 704 Cedar Avenue Yeadon PA 19050. Deadline to submit is September 24th, 2012.
