Ready your palate for the Culinary Classic

Sunday's event raises money for non-profits

By PETE TATTERSALL
ptattersall@sunherald.com

Some of the finest fare on the Coast will be available for public consumption Sunday, when the 11th annual Culinary Classic gets under way at 6 p.m. at the Island View Casino.

The event, featuring seven categories of prize-winning cuisine, including soup, salad, seafood, meat, poultry and dessert, is hosted by the American Culinary Federations Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter and the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center.

"Basically it's a fundraiser for both non-profit organizations. The chef association, which meets once a month, is basically to promote the culinary profession along the coast by giving scholarships to students and through competitions, education and recognition," said David Crabtree, president of the MS Gulf Coast Chapter. "And basically what happens is we have chefs come from different casinos, including from Louisiana and Alabama, three or four of the casinos along the Coast, and from four or five private restaurants. They'll bring their food here, and we'll have judging at 3 p.m."

The judges spend about two hours tasting and critiquing the entries, then first, second and third place winners are chosen in each of the various categories, with cash prizes and medals going to the winners in each category. Then, a "best in show" is determined, said Crabtree.

"At 6 p.m., ticketholders come in, we do a brief talk and they're able to sample each dish. We'll have them lined up, all the salads in one area, all the soups , and they can sample all that. And at 8 p.m. we announce all the winners," said Crabtree.

Participating chefs on hand this year will include representatives of Imperial Palace, Palace Casino, 27th Avenue Bistro, Delta Health Care, Vrazel's and Emeril's, among others, added Crabtree.

The event, which took a two-year hiatus post-Katrina and was traditionally held at the Grand Biloxi, usually draws in the neighborhood of 500 people, said Crabtree.

Because the chefs are competing in front of judges, each tries to outdo the other, he added.

"You're going to get the best-quality product you can - big jumbo lump crabmeat, lamb chops, filets, things like that - that's the kind of thing we'll put on your plate when there's a competition," said Crabtree.

Kathryn Shanks, interim director of the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, welcomed the assistance the event should provide the center.

"Since Hurricane Katrina, we've struggled, along with a lot of the other tourist-oriented organizations and destinations, so this is an opportunity to provide us with some operating funds," she said.

There will be live entertainment courtesy of The 'Tudes jazz quartet, cash bars, and a bottle of red and white wine provided, as part of the price of admission, to each table.

Tickets are $85 each, two for $150 and $1,000 for a reserved table for 10. For tickets call the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center at (228) 897-6039 or purchase online at www.lmdc.org.

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