Eight chefs from throughout the state have been selected to compete in the 2019 Wisconsin’s Taste of Elegance competition. The event will take place on Thursday, January 31 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The Taste of Elegance encourages chefs to develop creative pork recipes and will feature exquisitely prepared entrées from Wisconsin’s top chefs.
The eight chefs selected to compete in the 2019 Wisconsin’s Taste of Elegance are:
- Chef Michael Althen, Elite Catering, Baraboo
- Chef Mike Carmona Mejia, Red Circle Inn, Nashotah
- Chef Michael Choronzy, The Duke & Dagger, Menomonie
- Chef Danny Davis, The University Club at UW-Madison, Madison
- Chef Kevin Dahlen, Machine Shed, Waukesha
- Chef Damon Holter, Croix Valley Foods, River Falls
- Chef Bill Marchewka, Maple Bluff Country Club, Madison
- Chef Joe Schneider, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, Sun Prairie
A panel of judges will evaluate each entrée to determine the top winners who will receive cash prizes. Attendees at the event will also have the opportunity to sample the entrees and vote for their favorite to determine the people’s choice award.
In addition to the culinary competition, the Taste of Elegance will also include several fundraising auctions for Wisconsin Pork Association programs. A silent auction will be held to raise funds for a scholarship in memory of Buell Gunderson. A variety of fresh-baked pies will be for sale in the youth pie auction with proceeds going towards additional youth programs and scholarships. A separate live auction will also offer bidders an opportunity to purchase a variety of additional items.
Tickets to the Taste of Elegance are $25.00 and can be purchased in advance by calling the WPA office at 608-723-7551. Tickets will also be available for purchase the day of the event. For those planning to attend the Corn/Soy Expo, admission to the Taste of Elegance is included with two-day registration or one-day Thursday registration. The reception begins at 6:15 p.m.
Sponsors for the 2019 Taste of Elegance include: Johnsonville, National Pork Producers Council, Rabo AgriFinance, The Hanor Company of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board; and Wisconsin Pork Association. The event is held in conjunction with the Pork & Corn/Soy Expo, which takes place January 31 and February 1 at the Kalahari Resort, Wisc. Dells. For more information about the Expo, visit the website at www.cornsoyexpo.org.
