Bud Taylor, chef and owner of The Bistro at Topsail, will represent southeastern North Carolina during a state competition in August.

As part of the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association’s 2017 Expo, held Aug. 21-22 in Raleigh, 16 chefs from across the state will compete in the N.C. Chef Showdown. The competition will showcase the talents of North Carolina chefs in two categories: savory and sweet. Participants will be vying for the titles of 2017 “NCRLA Chef of the Year” and “Pastry Chef of the Year.”
 
According to a statement from NCRLA, 40 chefs applied for acceptance to the competition. 

Despite the fact that August is Taylor’s busiest month, he said he’s thrilled to have the chance to participate, and he and his team are already working on putting together a dish. The Bistro at Topsail is located at 602 B Roland Ave. in Surf City.

“The competition focuses on North Carolina ingredients and about 90 percent of our ingredients are sourced from within the state so that’s great for us,” Taylor said. “The biggest challenge will be working in an unfamiliar space.”

Each competitor will have a turn to plate and present his or her dish on stage to the audience as well as a panel of judges before returning to booths where attendees can sample a small serving of each dish.

The dishes will be scored by a panel of six professional judges on presentation, taste and use of ingredients from North Carolina. Additional awards include “Best Use of a North Carolina Product” and “Most Creative Presentation.” The “People’s Choice” awards are determined by showdown attendees.

“This year’s selection brings together some of the most innovative chefs in our state,” said NCRLA president and CEO Lynn Minges.

New this year, the NCRLA will also crown a 2017 “Mixologist of the Year,” with six North Carolina distilleries serving craft cocktails. Distillery/mixologist teams will be announced in the coming weeks.

A full list of competitors and tickets are available on the 2017 N.C. Chef Showdown's website.

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