Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with the Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
Several North Carolina restaurants have some bragging rights after placing in the Best Dish in North Carolina restaurant contest. This annual statewide competition, sponsored by the NCDA&CS and Our State magazine, recognizes and rewards the efforts of restaurants and chefs who use North Carolina products in their menus. It also raises awareness about local foods.
An anonymous panel of judges spent the summer traveling to 20 restaurants across the state to find the best fine dining and casual dining dishes that use North Carolina products. Ashten’s in Southern Pines won the fine dining category, and Bistro 42 in Asheboro was the winner in casual dining.
Second place in fine dining went to The Table at Crestwood in Boone, and third place went to Deluxe in Wilmington.
In the casual dining category, Kornerstone Bistro in Wilmington took second place, and Yancey House in Yanceyville took third.
The 20 finalists were chosen based on their proposed menus and marketing plans for promoting the menu. Chefs could enter a single dish or a combination of dishes, but each was judged as one entry. Finalists featured the dishes in their restaurant for at least a four-week period in May, June or July, when judging took place.
Judges rated each restaurant on its use of North Carolina products, creativity, presentation, taste and promotion. To find out more about the winners and their dishes, visit www.bestdishnc.com.
Listen in as Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about the results of this tasty contest.
NOTE: Due to a technical glitch, audio is currently unavailable through In the Field. Please click here to listen to the audio on Southern Farm Network’s Ag Daily website.