Golden Onion Field

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Bounty from the World’s Smallest Licensed Vidalia® Onion Farm  Set to Supply Inaugural Professional Cooking Competition

Chefs across Georgia are scrambling, and not just eggs, as the deadline for the inaugural Golden Onion professional cooking competition approaches on Friday, March 16, 2012. While eager chefs rush to finalize their applications, the Vidalia Onions that will be used during the competition are growing right on schedule.

“The crop of Vidalia Onions that will be harvested for the competition is in the ground at the Vidalia Onion Museum,” says Ingrid Varn, executive director of the Vidalia Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The sweeties grow in the world’s smallest licensed Vidalia Onion field under the watchful eyes of R.T. and Diane Stanley of Stanley Farms.” R.T., who was the 2007 Onion Grower of the Year, tackled the small plot as he would any other, taking meticulous soil samples, measuring the Ph and prepping the sandy ground (typical of Vidalia fields) with fertilizer and lime.

The small patch of Vidalia Onions was first planted in 2011 as a living exhibit near the entrance to the Vidalia Onion Museum. In the small plot thousands of Vidalia seedlings grow—sufficient quantity to supply the 12 chefs who will compete in the Golden Onion on Sunday, April 22, 2012, in Vidalia, Ga. This new professional cooking competition showcases the Vidalia Onion, Georgia’s most exclusive and internationally renowned agricultural treasure, and also offers a new platform for chefs across Georgia to display their skills and creativity.

Golden Onion competitors will have one hour to prepare and present a recipe that features Vidalia Onions. Twelve chefs are able to compete, and have the option to work with one assistant. To be eligible, competitors must be lead chefs (with job titles such as executive chef, chef de cuisine, chef/owner) for a free-standing restaurant in Georgia. Chefs working at restaurants associated with a luxury country club, resort or hotel are also eligible.

Dishes will be judged on the basis of taste, presentation and creativity. Failure to feature the flavor of Vidalia Onions or making last-minute changes to the recipe that was submitted during the application process may reduce a chef’s final score. Judging will be blind.

The First Place champion will be awarded the Golden Onion trophy, an exclusive honor to hold for one year. The trophy must be surrendered the following year to the next winner. The First Place champion will also receive a cash prize of $500. The second place winner will receive $250 and the third place winner $100. All winners will also receive commemorative plaques.

The Golden Onion competition will be held at the Vidalia Community Center, 107 Old Airport Road in Vidalia, Ga. The event is open to the public starting at 12:30 p.m. Advance tickets cost $5 per person or $10 at the door. For details visit www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.