Tuesday, March 30, 2010

NRA launches third annual Hot Chef Challenge

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) launched the the third annual NRA Show Hot Chef Challenge 2010 this week, inviting recent culinary school graduates and professional chefs to submit a video to www.youtube.com of themselves preparing their favorite recipe using fresh produce.

YouTube users will rate the video submission to select the top three finalists, from which one will be chosen as the winner by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. The winner will travel to Chicago to showcase his or her winning recipe and cook alongside Samuelsson at the 2010 NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show’s World Culinary Showcase on May 22 at McCormick Place. The winner will also receive accommodations for three days and two nights at the Affinia Hotel Chicago and a special dinner with wine pairings at Samuelsson's Chicago restaurant C-House.

Interested chefs and cooks should submit an original video demonstrating their recipe at www.youtube.com/hotchef2010 or www.restaurant.org/show by April 29. Videos should be no longer than two minutes and recipes must include at least one fresh produce item, plus any other ingredients of their choice.