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"Cooking With the Chefs" Earns International Honors


Contact:
Katie Mosher, 919/515-9069, katie_mosher@ncsu.edu

Posted Wednesday, September 30, 2009


The 2008 Cooking With the Chefs program at the N.C. Seafood Festival earned "gold" ranking in awards announced recently by the International Festival & Events Association.

The cooking demonstrations featuring master chefs using local seafood were honored as best "event within an event" among similar-size programs across the country and abroad. The competition known as the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards were announced at the association's annual convention held in Indiana. The Seafood Festival's newspaper insert also earned gold honors.

Barry Nash, North Carolina Sea Grant seafood technology and marketing specialist, assisted in organizing the chefs' program modeled after popular television cooking shows. "Folks love seafood," says Nash, who also serves on the festival board of directors.

"National and regional market research shows the public has a strong preference for local seafood, but many people do not know when commercial products are seasonally available along our coast, where fresh local seafood can be purchased or how to prepare tasty seafood meals at home," he adds.

"Last year, Carteret Catch established a partnership with the festival to craft an educational and entertaining program that highlights seafood caught by Carteret County fishermen."

The 2009 Cooking With the Chefs program will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4, at the N.C. Seafood Festival in Morehead City. In addition to the chefs' signature dishes, the program will profile information on online resources for North Carolina seafood and fisheries. A market will be available adjacent to the chefs' venue offering a variety of fresh, local seafood for festival attendees to purchase. More information is available at www.ncseafoodfestival.org.

The IFEA mission is to "inspire and enable those in our industry to realize their dreams, build community and sustain success through celebration." For more information, go to www.ifea.org.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Click here for more details on Cooking With the Chefs.

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