fbpx

Learn Blog

A Look Back at America’s Hometown Throwdown Chef Competition

It has been one month since the First Annual America’s Hometown Throwdown Chef Competition. Before we get ahead of ourselves with thoughts about how to make the event bigger and better for next year, we wanted to document and share what a wonderful event we had on October 9th. There were so many local businesses and people involved to make it possible; and let’s not forget the inspiration behind it all was the Plimoth Plantation’s Mayflower II Restoration Project.

Thank you to all of the chefs/restaurants who participated in the competition: Mary Adamcyk (Sysco), Dick Brown (Nosh Tavern), Jim Casey (The Blue-Eyed Crab Carribean Grill & Rum Bar),  Jes Childers (The New World Tavern), Stephen Coe (SWAT Slow Food Truck), Dan Delancey (The Lobster Trap), Michael Morway (Craftship Catering), John Ricardo (Solstice Restaurant), and Jeff Wheaton (The Driftwood Publick House).

The competition itself consisted of three rounds in which the chefs had to use local ingredients and items that would have been available to the Pilgrims in Plimoth 1621, at The First Thanksgiving. For the second and third rounds, the chefs were presented with surprise ingredients from the sea provided by Red’s Best. We started with 9, narrowed down to 4, then moved on to a final round of 2. Congratulations to John Ricardo of Solstice Restaurant for taking home this year’s first place trophy!

Our fabulous judges for the event were Lynn Tripp (Johnson & Whales ), Michael Boteiri (Plymouth Chief of Police), Paula Marcoux (Edible South Shore), Chef Doug Rodriguez, and Chef Thomas Kilbourne (Chatham Bars Inn).

We can’t forget all the sponsors that provided food and services: DJ Andrew Chute kept our ears full of tunes all day, while Jake Hill MCed the event. CabbyShack brought their award winning clam chowder. Plymouth Rock Oyster Growers brought oysters for the chef competition and for VIP ticket holders. The Pour Guys LLC poured wine and soft drinks for guests. Sysco Boston supplied a lot of The First Thanksgiving Pantry foods and brought in all the kitchen equipment. Plymouth Farmers’ Market supplied a lot of locally grown items for The First Thanksgiving Pantry. Edible South Shore & South Coast featured the event in their Autumn Issue. WATD had our very own Jeff Nardone and Chef Michael Morway on the airwaves to talk about the event. A Plus Party Rentals and Peterson Party Center supplied rentals such as tables and linens. Chase Canopy kept us dry under two big tents, which we definitely needed that day! So THANK YOU to each and every company that came together to create a unique and entertaining fundraiser and to all of you who came out to enjoy the event and support a great cause.

Another result of the event: 269 pounds of food, the equivalent of 207 meals, were donated to South Shore Community Action Council. We must continue to extend a sincere thanks to all of the local food suppliers that donated to make the event a success and in turn, help families in need.

Photos of the event can be seen by clicking on these links: Pedro Blano Photography and Eggsy Photography.

14714827_1215027255224987_6921138707785170749_o