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Top chefs competing at Missouri Pork Association’s Taste of Elegance

Top chefs competing at Missouri Pork Association’s Taste of Elegance

March 4, 2013

MPA allows regional Food Bank to utilize as donor appreciation event for 4th year

WHO:  Nearly a dozen Springfield–Branson area chefs are competing in the Missouri Pork Association’s Taste of Elegance event, which has also become Ozarks Food Harvest’s annual donor appreciation event. This is the fourth year OFH has invited guests to attend.

Participating restaurants and organizations include Aviary Café, Branch Bistro, Cook’s Kettle, Cox Health, Farmers Gastropub, Fire & Ice, Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks, Scallions at OTC, Table 22, Twin Oaks Country Club and Victory Trade School.

Pork is donated by Farmland Foods, and Missouri Wines will also be at the event, serving complimentary wine.

WHAT:  The regional food bank’s food and fund donors, volunteers and advocates attend Taste of Elegance and sample and vote on the pork entrées. There is no cost to Ozarks Food Harvest’s invitees; however the event is invite/RSVP-only.

WHEN:  Monday, March 11 at 6:30–8:30 p.m. (Judging begins at 3:20 p.m., with last plate due at 5:30 p.m. Media is invited to pre-judging which occurs before the event doors open.)

WHERE:  Ramada Oasis Convention Center­, 2546 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, Mo.

WHY:  Sponsored by the National Pork Board, Taste of Elegance is a major culinary competition  designed to inspire innovative and exciting ways to menu pork. Since 1987, Taste of Elegance has evolved into more than twenty regional competitions annually. In Missouri, there are four events; in St. Louis, Columbia, Kansas City and Springfield (or Branson). Winning chefs are then invited to participate in the National Pork Summit, bringing together talented, winning chefs from across the country.

The program provides an exciting competition in the chef community while also serving as a learning exchange for the chefs. At every competition, prizes are awarded for outstanding pork dishes based on a variety of factors, including taste, originality and presentation. Judges for the events have included master chefs, food editors and past Taste of Elegance winners.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 250 nonprofit agencies across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes 10 million meals annually to 170,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.

About Missouri Pork Association
The Missouri Pork Association represents the state’s pork producers in the areas of promotion, research, education and legislation. For more information about this or any other programs of the Missouri Pork Association, go to mopork.com, or call (573) 445-8375.