COUNTRYChef Challenge
ReturnsTo Showcase Fresh Produce
CHICAGO (July 28, 2008) ¾ Daley Plaza Farmers Marketvisitors will get some fresh ideas for turning abundant summer produce intotasty dishes at the second COUNTRY Chef Challenge on Aug. 7, sponsored byCOUNTRY Financial and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events (MOSE).
Chefs vying to become Master of the Market from 11:00 a.m.to 1 p.m. are:
- Mark Mendez, Carnivale
- Jimmy “Tasty J” Madla, Coobah
- Kaminsky Thomas, Anteprima
Competing chefs will be given 30 minutes to select freshingredients from the market. They will then be given another 30 minutes tocreate a winning dish in a flavorful food face-off.
A panel of judges led by James Oliver Cury, executive editorof Epicurious.com, will determine the best dish and name the second COUNTRYChef Challenge Master of the Market. Ann Flood, editor of Edible Chicago will also serve as a judge. JackieTranchida from CLTV’s MetroMix will emcee the event.
One thousand COUNTRY Chef Challenge guests will receive acanvas bag provided by COUNTRY. The bag was designed by Adrianna Hedean, aStephen Tyng Mather High School junior. She received a $1,000 scholarship fromCOUNTRY as winner of the first Farmers Markets Reusable Bag Design Contest.
“We are excited to bring the COUNTRY Chef Challenge back tothe Daley Plaza Farmers Market. After our success last year, our chefs willprovide more fresh cooking ideas to Chicagoans,” says Mike Fisher, COUNTRY director of new market development. “Earlierthis year, we announced our continued support for the Chicago Farmers Marketsthrough 2010. Look for us at your neighborhood market where we’ll be givingaway our canvas bags.”
“The COUNTRY Chef Challenge is a great way to showcase thefresh, locally grown goods produced by the city’s own farmers and artisans,”said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “I commendthe culinary community for using these fresh ingredients in their specialtydishes and encouraging residents to eat healthy foods while supporting the localeconomy.”
COUNTRY (http://www.countryfinancial.com) andits alliances serve about one million households and businesses throughout theUnited States. Founded in 1925,COUNTRY has nearly 2,000 exclusive agents in 14 Midwestern and Western stateswho help clients protect what they have, save for a comfortable future, and inturn, achieve financial security. COUNTRY, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., offers a full range offinancial products and services from auto, home and life insurance toretirement planning services, investment management and annuities.
MOSE provides Chicagoans and visitors with year-round,family-style entertainment by producing and promoting free festivals andcity-wide holiday celebrations, including the Taste of Chicago, Blues Fest andthe Chicago Farmers Markets.
The Chicago Farmers’ Markets is presented by COUNTRYFinancial and the Mayor's Office of Special Events, and is sponsored in part bythe Chicago Tribune.
