![Chefs judge Naples cooks on Blue Zones-quality home recipes Chefs judge Naples cooks on Blue Zones-quality home recipes](https://usanewznow.com/wp-content/uploads/https://www.naplesnews.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/03/28/PNDN/73133101007-watermelon-gazpacho-punchbowl.jpg?crop=3229,1815,x401,y0&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
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While so many in our group are fast to criticize native eating places and cooks on varied social media websites, what if the tables have been turned and so they judged your meals?
On March 25, members of the Naples Woman’s Club obtained an opportunity to search out out when internet hosting a cooking competitors that awarded $1,000 to the charity of the winner’s selection.
The high rule: Recipes needed to meet the Blue Zones Project’s wholesome consuming ideas, which embody a each day emphasis on plant-based meals.
But that wasn’t the one requirement.
The eight groups and two solo cooks’ dishes have been additionally judged on taste profile, presentation and texture, for a doable 60-point complete.
So who have been these judges?
![Local culinary celebrity judges at Naples Woman's Club on March 25: Rafael Campo from Blue Zones Project, chef-owner Andy Hyde, restaurant owner Thelma Negley, chef-owner Alberto Valetto and Le Colonial's chef Moosah Reaume.](https://www.naplesnews.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/03/28/PNDN/73133123007-judges-panel-better.jpg?width=660&height=298&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Thelma Negley – co-owner of Syren, The Claw Bar, and The London Club
- Alberto Varetto – chef-proprietor of Alberto’s on Fifth
- Andy Hyde – chef-proprietor of Hyde N Chic
- Moosah Reaume – Le Colonial’s chef
- Rafael Campo – representing the Blue Zones Project, whose tenets embrace social alternatives as a part of constructing a wholesome group.
They have been fairly robust on factors. The winningest scores hovered within the low 50s, whereas a number of scored within the 20s.
After sampling a number of dishes across the room and seeing the ensuing scores, there’s no probability any of them will likely be invited to dinner at my home — ever.
How it went down
The room was set with fairly tables that includes 10 dishes with prompt wine pairings.
![Kathy Peppe and Peg Showe paired up on a beautiful watermelon gazpacho.](https://www.naplesnews.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/03/28/PNDN/73133107007-kathy-peppe-peg-showe-watermelon-gazpacho.jpg?width=660&height=298&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Wanting to make sure perfection, Kathy Peppe and Peg Showe ventured to Rebecca’s Wine Bar earlier than the occasion to hunt sommelier Michael Bevacqua’s experience on what to pour with their watermelon gazpacho.
Talk about competitors. For the report, Bevacqua prompt Nortico, a low-ABV Portuguese white wine.
An early favourite for Le Colonial’s Reaume was lettuce cups stuffed with chopped hen, appreciating how the butter lettuce leaves leaned to taco-like maneuverability.
“The textures and the flavors come together.”
![Cathy Reichenracher and Connie Stewart's lettuce cups filled with chicken salad were an early favorite for Le Colonial's chef Moosah Reaume.](https://www.naplesnews.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/03/28/PNDN/73133116007-chicken-salad-lettuce-cups.jpg?width=660&height=298&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
But after tasting his manner across the room, his resolution was cut up. He thought, “The chicken with white barbecue sauce was really exciting.”
He additionally preferred the turkey chili.
For Negley, gazpacho yielded excessive reward, noting, “It’s an excellent presentation. Gazpacho is usually too spicy, but this has the perfect amount. Its flavor, presentation and texture all get high marks.”
Varetto made a stable case for why he beloved the turkey chili, which was additionally properly spiced and served with avocado, scallion and different toppings.
![Pamela Curley and Donna Fisher's sublime turkey chili was a hit with the judges.](https://www.naplesnews.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/03/28/PNDN/73133099007-turkey-chili-pamela-curley-donna-fisher-arts-and-culture.jpg?width=660&height=298&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
“It’s very balanced. Sometimes when focusing on healthy recipes, you lose flavor.”
He additionally stated that presentation is necessary, however “what you remember is the taste. If it’s very good, you’ll remember it.”
He took a replica of the recipe and talked about he may make it at home.
Campo additionally sang the chili’s praises.
For Hyde, the gazpacho with “tiny prawns was really good. Great texture and balanced flavors, perfect for spring weather.”
After he answered, he sampled the turkey chili that he additionally thought was correctly spiced.
Yet, when asking what he’d fortunately eat once more?
It was the gazpacho and hen.
![Watermelon gazpacho was beautifully presented.](https://www.naplesnews.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/03/28/PNDN/73133097007-watermelon-gazpacho-plated.jpg?width=660&height=298&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
“It was important to me that the flavors and the nutritional aspects were on point. Then I focused on presentation and textures.
He believes antioxidants are integral to recipes like this and suggests swapping healthy juices for wine. He also advocates adding anti-inflammatory ingredients, including ginger and turmeric.
The chefs all high-tailed it after tasting everything and marking their scorecards. It was 4:30 p.m., and their restaurants were open.
Winner winner chicken dinner
Katherine Dean and her husband, Dr. Edwin Dean, who grew up in Naples, received the most votes.
![Katherine Dean, Dr. Edwin Dean and Pat Swenson with their award-winning Cornell Chicken, a recipe from Naples Daily News.](https://www.naplesnews.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/03/28/PNDN/73133103007-katherine-dean-tk-cornell-chicken.jpg?width=660&height=298&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Their recipe?
Cornell Chicken served with heaps of greens.
As Katherine Dean tells it, “The recipe ran in the Naples Daily News, and my husband earned his degrees from Cornell, both undergrad and its medical school. It is delicious and very different from your normal barbecue chicken recipe; it’s healthy and grilled.”
The recipe was created by the late Robert Baker, professor of meals and poultry sciences on the college’s agriculture faculty.
Fun truth: Baker’s can be credited with creating hen nuggets, turkey ham and poultry sizzling canine.
Dean believed it was a battle to just accept the prize as a result of, because the occasion’s co-chairs, “we’re actually donating the funds.”
But all’s effectively that ends effectively, with two groups every being awarded $1,000 for his or her native charities of selection.
Restaurants:New pizza, celeb sighting, sandwiches for charity, Ritz adjustments, fries deal
Cathy Reichenracher and Connie Stewart’s lettuce cups win went to Providence House, which serves homeless ladies and kids in Naples with faith-based, transitional housing and self-sufficiency packages.
Pamela Curley and Donna Fisher of turkey chili fame earmarked their win for St. Vincent de Paul’s Meals on Wheels program.
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