Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with the Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
Twenty restaurants from across North Carolina have been selected as finalists in the Best Dish in North Carolina contest. Sponsored by the NCDA&CS and Our State magazine, the contest recognizes and rewards the efforts of restaurants and chefs who use North Carolina products regularly in their menus. It also raises awareness about local foods, restaurants and chefs.
Restaurants compete in either the fine or casual dining category. Finalists are required to feature their dish or combination of courses in their restaurant for at least a four-week period in May, June or July. During this time, a panel of three judges will visit each finalist to sample the entries and judge each restaurant on its use of North Carolina products, creativity, presentation, taste and promotion.
Finalists in Fine Dining are: Grove Park Inn Blue Ridge Dining Room, Asheville; Red Stag Grill, Asheville; Simplicity at the Mast Farm Inn, Banner Elk; Beaufort Grocery Co., Beaufort; Table at Crestwood, Boone; Carolina Crossroads at Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill; Il Palio at The Siena Hotel, Chapel Hill; The Gallery Restaurant at the Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte; Ashten’s, Southern Pines; and Deluxe, Wilmington.
Finalists in Casual Dining are: Bistro 42, Asheboro; Earth Fare, Asheville; Giorgio Restaurant Bar and Lounge, Cary; Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse, Durham; Watts Grocery, Durham; Kitchen Roselli, East Bend; Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen, Greensboro; Outer Banks Brewing Station, Kill Devil Hills; Kornerstone Bistro, Wilmington; and Yancey House Restaurant, Yanceyville.
Listen in as Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda Garrison talk about this contest and offer their views on what distinguishes fine dining from casual dining.
[Audio:Troxler_5-4.mp3|loader=2F6324]
The Southern Farm Network is a division of Curtis Media Group.