CALL FOR ENTRIES:

 PROFESSIONAL CHEFS ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT OFFICIAL ENTRY FOR 2008 CALIFORNIA DATE CHEF COMPETITION

Official entries must be postmarked or emailed by Friday, February 29, 2008

 INDIO, CA. – (December 14, 2007) The official Call for Entries is now open to professional chefs for the 2008 California Date Chef Competition.

            Official entry forms are available online at www.DatesAreGreat.com or call 1-800-223-8748 to request a facsimile version.  Appetizer, entrée or dessert category entries must include a color photo and use California date varieties of Deglet Noor, Halawy, Khadrawy or Zahidi.  Because of federal regulations, Medjool dates are exempt from the competition.

            Entries must be postmarked or emailed by 5 p.m. Friday, February 29. 

            Fifteen finalists will be selected to present their entry for judging at the 2008 California Date Chef Competition held Sunday, April 27 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Special Events Center.  

            Finalists will compete for top prizes in the Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert categories, as well as Best of Show and People’s Choice.  Winners take away more than $5,000 in award money, trophies and the opportunity for their restaurant to show off the award winning recipe for a month at their establishment.

            The eighth annual competition is open only to professional chefs currently employed by or owners of a restaurant, catering service, or hotel.

            “The professional blind judging takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. when the nine-member panel of chefs, food writers and experts will taste and evaluate the finalists’ entries, judging for best use of dates, originality, flavor, texture and overall presentation for 100 possible points,” said Chef Spokesman Freddy Rieger, executive chef at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

            The event is open to the public from 2 – 4:30 p.m. during the Gala Awards Reception.  Guests are invited to sample all the entries, visit with the chefs, talk with Date Industry leaders, and vote for their favorite to win the People’s Choice Award.  Tickets to the event are $35 per person and benefit the California Women for Agriculture’s Culinary Scholarships. 

            The event is sponsored by the California Date Administrative Committee and Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.  Sponsorship opportunities are available to support the benefit event. The competition celebrates the partnership between the Coachella Valley’s tourism and agriculture industries.

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