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Snapshots SENC’s Top Chefs
SE North Carolina Snapshot
SENC’s Top Chefs
Three chefs, one mixologist are finalists in North Carolina Chef Showdown
Although none of the finalists from Southeastern N.C. were named North Carolina’s Chef or Mixologist of the Year, our area did see some of its top chefs compete in September for the title.
Te North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Chef Showdown was held Sept. 30 at the Angus Barn’s Bay 7 in Durham. According to the NCRLA website, those competing in the showdown were encouraged “to use as many local N.C. ingredients as they can to create a dish and drink to earn them the top titles.”
All of the winners of this year’s competition were from the western part of N.C. However, our local chefs and mixologist had a great showing, and by all accounts, a great time. Amanda Ezzell
Amanda Ezzell, who owns the Somethin’ Good food truck and Ezzell’s Catering, earned the right to compete at the state level after being one of four chefs chosen at a regional competition.
“Tis competition requires chefs to use their knowledge to use local produce and local proteins to create a delightfully delicious dish,” Ezzell said.
Of course, she was disappointed not to win, but she wrote in a Facebook post: “I would go through this entire process all over again.”
Brandon Shepard Urban Street Eats, Cedar Point
Urban Street Eats, a food truck based in Cedar Point, is described as “bringing exciting new flavors to our area using quality ingredients with an urban flare.”
Urban Street Eats serves “oldschool classic street food from around the world with a modern twist.” Popular items include Korean barbecue tacos, Cuban sandwiches and more.
Brandon Shepard and his wife, Elizabeth, originally started in Swansboro in 2017. Te food truck quickly expanded into other areas, and was named in the Top 10 for Rookie Food Truck of the Year in 2017 by Mobile-Cuisine. com, a nationwide website focusing on food trucks. Jake Vollmar Village at River Landing, Wallace
Jake Vollmar started as executive banquet chef at River Landing just before Hurricane Florence struck last year. A native of Ohio, he is a classically trained chef. He’s lived in Burgaw for about four years, and has been cooking for the past 15 years.
“I didn’t expect all this,” he said of the Chef Showdown.
Vollmar made it to the final round of the competition with a dish called “Tree Little Pigs.”
“What I love about this competition is that it showcases North Carolina farmers,” he said. “It’s about paying homage to that farmer, being the last person to touch that product before it goes to a consumer.” Hannah Forde-Smith Mother Earth Spirits, Kinston
Head of beverages at famed Chef and the Farmer in Kinston, Hannah Forde-Smith has created a wide variety of original cocktails, using Mother Earth Spirits. Some favorites include the Benedict Cu-Cumberbatch, Little Jack Horner and Crazy Aunt Mildred, to name a few. Te cocktails change with the seasons, so you can always find something fresh and new — and unique.
“Mother Earth Gin is the most contemporary and dangerously delicious spirit to come out of North Carolina,” she says. “Simply put, it’s the gin that made me love gin.”
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