Winners Announced for the 5th Annual “Eggs On the Beach” EggFest Cooking Competition
The fifth annual Eggs on the Beach, official Big Green Egg festival, drew record participation and resulted in some big winners. The Gulf Restaurant was awarded the Judges First Place Trophy and Sacred Cue earned first place Peoples’ Choice Award. The Rotary Club of Destin was the top non-profit team winner and Saltwater Restaurant Group took best booth display in addition to second place People’s Choice and second place Judge’s Award Winner. Presented by Bay Breeze Patio, Eggs on the Beach celebrated foods cooked on the Big Green Egg with nearly 30 cook teams competing for trophies and prizes for their creative recipes, which were served on a beautiful Saturday at Seascape Resort.
The cook teams really ‘wowed’ us with their creative dishes. Congratulations to all our winners. These teams put a lot of thought and creativity into these recipes and it showed.
Honorary judges, including James Briscione, chef, author and Food Network personality; Brooke Parkhurst, cookbook author and former host of ABC’s internet and digital cable food series; Jude Tauzin, corporate chef at Tony Chachere’s; Josh Moore, executive chef and partner at Volare Italian Ristorante; and Chef Sergeant Dan Luizzi, awarded trophies based on flavor, presentation and creativity. Judge’s Choice Winners for 2018, include The Gulf Restaurant on Okaloosa Island , Saltwater Restaurants, Inc., and Sacred Que. The winning bite presented by The Gulf feaured Knob Creek Bourbon glazed crispy pork belly with a pineapple and sweet pepper relish and sweet and hot roasted peanuts.
The People’s Choice Award was presented to Sacred Que, Saltwater Restaurants, Inc. and Rotary Club of Destin. Sacred Que won with their bite, which was a sweet tea and bourbon brined beef tenderloin served on a toast point with a caramelized onion/shiitake mushroom/blue cheese spread, horseradish cream sauce, jalapeño pesto and harissa sauce. Their bite was also accompanied by Knob Creek infused raisin bread pudding with a bourbon icing sauce as well as Knob Creek smoked Old Fashions. They earned a Golden Ticket to go on and compete in the World Food Championships in Orange Beach in November.
The winning teams in the non-profit category were Rotary Club of Destin, Air Commando Association, and Son of a Saint. Rotary Club of Destin presented butterflied pork tenderloin spread with a thin layer of cream cheese and sprinkled with jalapeños and green onions then rolled up and wrapped in bacon. The dish was topped with maple-soaked pecan chips smoked on the Big Green Egg. The bite was then topped with a Granny Smith apple, dried cranberry, pecan, sun-dried tomatoes and Knob Creek maple bourbon chutney sauce.
The best booth display was presented to Saltwater Restaurants, Inc. From the minute guests stepped into their booth, they were greeted with wicker carpet beneath their feet and signage highlighting the creative bites along with a drink station featuring a Knob Creek Bourbon Smash. The creative booth design and delicious bites were a big hit among tasters and judges. Their bite, which was a buffalo sirloin with a side shrimp, earned them the second place People’s Choice and second place Judge’s Award.
All proceeds from Eggs on the Beach benefit the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought. Located on Eglin Air Force Base, the Fisher House provides a “home away from home” for military families during treatment for serious illness or physical/occupational therapy. Food for Thought helps fight food insecurity by providing backpacks filled with healthy snacks for nights and weekends. Learn more about Eggs on the Beach at www.EggsontheBeach.com.