Over 80 of North Carolina’s top chefs competed at the 8th annual North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) Chef Showdown, with The Dairy Alliance playing a crucial role in highlighting the state’s agricultural products. As a long-standing supporter and sponsor of the Undeniably Dairy Awards, The Dairy Alliance—backed by Southeast dairy farm families—honored local chefs for their commitment to using locally sourced dairy during the Grand Finale event in Durham on August 26th.
Geri Berdak, CEO of The Dairy Alliance, expressed excitement about the event, stating, “Milk can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways, and we were thrilled to see these talented chefs transform local dairy into something extraordinary. Their innovation and dedication not only enhance their dishes but also spotlight the hard work of our North Carolina dairy farmers. We’re proud to support these chefs and the local agriculture community they uplift.”
Presented by Got To Be NC (North Carolina Department of Agriculture), the Chef Showdown Grand Finale highlighted North Carolina’s culinary diversity with inventive dishes and craft cocktails featuring the state’s finest proteins, produce, and products. The event took place at Bay 7 at the American Tobacco Campus.
This year’s competition featured 84 chefs and pastry chefs creating both savory dishes and desserts celebrating North Carolina agriculture. The Chef Showdown also honored winners in various categories, including NCRLA Chef of the Year, NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year, NCRLA Mixologist of the Year, NCRLA Distillery of the Year, and NCRLA Mocktail of the Year.
Lynn Minges, President and CEO of the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, noted, “Our annual Chef Showdown is North Carolina’s premier culinary and mixology competition, designed to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity in our state while championing local ingredients from our farmers. Partnering with The Dairy Alliance once again helped us spotlight the essential role of dairy in elevating North Carolina’s culinary scene.”
The Dairy Alliance’s sponsorship emphasized the use of dairy from local farms, reinforcing their commitment to regional agriculture. This year, Conley Marie of The Willard in Raleigh won the People’s Choice Award for Best Mocktail with her Key Lime Pie Mocktail.
