July 11, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

Dubuque chef wins Quad Cities Taste of Elegance competition
(BETTENDORF, Iowa) – The Iowa and Illinois Pork Producers associations held the 29th annual Quad Cities Taste of Elegance culinary contest at the Isle of Capri Convention Center in Bettendorf on July 8.

The event, which began in 1985 as a way to encourage white tablecloth restaurants to add pork entrees to their menus, attracted 10 Iowa and Illinois chefs for the contest and more than 200 guests for the evening reception. Each chef prepared an original pork entrée for judging on taste, appearance and originality.

Earning the title of Chef Par Excellence was Chef Jon Nelson of the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque. He prepared a Pork and Kumquats entrée and received a plaque and $1,000 in cash from the Scott County Pork Producers for his efforts. Nelson is now eligible to represent the Quad Cities at Pork Summit 2014, a National Taste of Elegance event next spring at Greystone in California.

“The national pork summit trip is really what inspired me to go for the win this year,” said Nelson. “It was a great trip and I look forward to attending again in the spring.”

Judges tabbed Jason Stewart of Select Specialty Hospital and Pasquetti’s in Davenport as Superior Chef. He received a plaque and $700 for an entrée he called Crumpled Pork Cubano.

The Premier Chef was Carina Fleetwood of the Isle of Capri at Calypso’s in Bettendorf. She earned a plaque and $300 for her entrée of Braised Shredded Citrus Carnitas with Roasted Salsa Roja and Cabbage Slaw.

After sampling the competitors’ entrée’s at the evening reception, the guests selected the entrée of Chef Tony Furlin from the Offshore Grill in Bellevue for the People’s Choice Award. Furlin prepared a dish titled Peach Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry/Peach Pico de Gallo. He received a check for $250.

“We encourage the chefs to be creative with their pork cut selection and it’s a great way to show consumers that the less expensive cuts can be just as delicious when prepared well,” said Kelsey Sutter, marketing and programs director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Additional Taste of Elegance sponsors were Martin Bros. Distribution Co., U.S. Foodservice, Scott County Pork Producers, Scott Community College, Milan Florist, Trophy Shoppe and the Isle of Capri.