Chefs across Georgia will again be challenged to reveal layers of their owntalent as well as the versatility of the famous Vidalia®onion.
The Second Annual Golden Onion professional cooking competition will be heldon Sunday, April 14, 2013 in Vidalia, Ga., as the official kick-off to the 36thAnnual Vidalia Onion Festival. This cook-off showcases the Vidalia® onion, Georgia’s most exclusive andrenowned agricultural treasure, and also offers a platform for chefs across thestate to display their skills and creativity.
“We were blown away by the talent at the Golden Onion competition,especially for a first year event, said Karen Bremer, executive director of theGeorgia Restaurant Association. “It just goes to show how committed Georgia’srestaurants are to highlighting our fine Georgia Grown products—like theVidalia® onion. There’s a real senseof pride in presenting these thoughtfully prepared, high-quality dishes. Withlocally grown produce as a top menu item trend for 2013, we can’t wait to seewhat the chefs bring to the table this year!”
Golden Onion competitors will have one hour to prepare and present a recipethat features Vidalia® onions.Twelve chefs are able to compete, and have the option to work with oneassistant. To be eligible, competitors must be lead chefs (with job titles suchas executive chef, chef de cuisine, chef/owner) for a free-standing restaurantin 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, creativity and overall use of Vidalia® onions. Making last-minute changes to the recipe submitted during theapplication process will reduce a chef’s final score. The panel of five judgeswill include Chef Hilary White, ownerand executive chef of The Hil On the Hill: A Restaurant at Serenbe, who wasawarded First Place Champion of Golden Onion 2012; Chef Holly Chute, executivechef of the Georgia Governor’s Mansion; Bob Stafford, director of the Vidalia® Onion BusinessCouncil; Hope S. Philbrick, anAtlanta-based freelance writer/editor whoconceived of the Golden Onion; and another professional chef yet to beannounced.
Some notable changes being introduced into the competition this year includejudging that is open (not blind) to give chefs the opportunity to present theirdishes, and allocating 15 percent of the total possible score to evaluate howVidalia® onions are used in thedish.
The First Place Champion will be awarded the Golden Onion trophy, anexclusive honor to hold for one year. The trophy, which was designed by artistMelissa Harris of Rome, Ga., must be passed the following year to the nextwinner. The First Place Champion will also receive a cash prize of $500. Thesecond place winner will receive $250 and the third place winner $100. Allwinners will also receive commemorative plaques.
“The Golden Onion is an exciting opportunity for chefs across Georgia toroll up their sleeves and show us what they can do with our official statevegetable,”says Ingrid M. Varn, executive director of the Vidalia AreaConvention & Visitors Bureau. “And it’s a fun opportunity for festivalgoers to witness a cooking competition while standing face-to-face withchefs—cooking competitions are very popular on TV but it’s a very differentexperience to smell what’s cooking and know that nothing has been edited out.”Recipe booklets featuring all of the competitors’ recipes will be included withthe ticket price for the Golden Onion 2013 event; the booklets will also beavailable for $10 at various events throughout the 36th Annual Vidalia OnionFestival (while supplies last).
“To have this much talent come into our community and compete using ourVidalia onions as the main ingredient in their dishes is very good for ourcommunity and for our industry,” said Bob Stafford, director of the Vidalia® Onion Business Counciland Vidalia® Onion Hall of Fame inductee. “It’s also a lot offun. I was honored to be a judge last year; the dishes that were presentedexceeded my expectations. I am truly looking forward to this year’scompetition.”
The Golden Onion competition is presentedby the Vidalia Onion Festival Committee in cooperation with the Vidalia®Onion Committee and the GeorgiaRestaurant Association.
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 startingat 12:30 p.m. Advance tickets cost $10 per person or $15 at the door.
For details anddownloadable application materials, visit www.vidaliaonionfestival.com andwww.garestaurants.org/GoldenOnion.
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