CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL CHEFS:
OFFICIAL ENTRY FORMS NOW AVAILABLE FOR
6TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA DATE
CHEF COMPETITION
Sunday, April 23, 2006, Fantasy
Springs Resort Casino
INDIO, CA. – (January 20, 2006) Professional
chefs are invited to enter the 6th
annual California Date Chef Competition that
will be held on Sunday, April 23, 2006
at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio,
Calif. located at Golf Center Parkway off
the Interstate 10, just 15 minutes east of
Palm Springs.
Official entry forms are now
available online at
www.DatesAreGreat.com or by calling
(760) 347-4510 or toll free at (800) 223-
8748 for a FAXED version. Fifteen finalists
selected from all the official entries
received by 5 p.m. Friday, February 24,
2006 will compete for over $5,000 in
prize money. Entry forms may be mailed,
emailed or faxed before the deadline.
Best of Show winner will receive
$1,500, and $1,000 prize money will be
awarded for first place in appetizers,
entrees and desserts categories.
Original recipes featuring
California dates are the essential criteria
for entering the California Date Chef
Competition. Recipes must be created by the
participant, not have won another award, or
be restricted in use in any way.
Fantasy Springs Executive Chef Perry
Mascitti, this year’s Chef Spokesman, and a
panel of food professionals will select the
finalists’ recipes based on the best use of
dates, originality, preparation skill and
presentation.
The top 15 finalists will have the
opportunity to display their creations for
final judging on April 23 by a distinguished
panel of food experts and the public who
will vote for The People’s Choice award.
The event is open to the public during the
Gala Champagne Awards Reception from 2-5
p.m. Cost is $35 per person and proceeds
benefit Culinary Scholarships through the
California Women for Agriculture.
The competition is sponsored by the
California Date Administrative Committee to
encourage and reward professional chefs’
creative use of dates in upscale cuisine.
Winners in all categories will be required
to feature their winning dish at their
business establishment for a least one month
during the coming year. Recipes will also
be published on our website, and may be
mentioned in major culinary publications.
For an official entry form and competition
rules, please visit the CDAC website at
www.DatesAreGreat.com or call
800-223-8748.
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