What: Top Local Chef + Tampa Bay Marketplace
When: 5-7:30 pm Sunday, April 30, 2017
Where: Aboard Sir Winston, Vinoy Basin, downtown St. Petersburg
Why: To connect the area’s foodies with the best restaurateurs in the region
Admission: General admission and Almost-VIP passes available at TopLocalChef.com. VIP seats sold out
Event website: TopLocalChef.com
More information: ester@localshops1.com or 727-637-5586
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Ten local restaurants are going to sea (or technically, the bay), to compete in LocalShops1’s eighth annual Top Local Chef extravaganza. They are:
Countryside Café, Clearwater, Chef Richard Ge
Da Sesto Italiano, Pinellas Park, Chef Sesto Ramadori
Deuces BBQ, St. Petersburg, Chef Patrick Collins
Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, St. Pete Beach/Pass-a-Grille, Chef Gary Mayfield
Iberian Rooster, St. Petersburg, Chef Patrick Collins
Marchand’s @ the Vinoy, St. Petersburg, Chef Ross Clingman
Reading Room, St. Petersburg, Lauren Macellaro
Red Mesa, St. Petersburg, Chef Chris Fernandez
Smokin’ J’s, Gulfport, Chef John Rieseback
The Stone Soup Company, Tampa/Ybor City, Chef Ilya Goldberg
The event will take place aboard a luxury yacht with Celebrity Chef Ray Lampe, aka Dr. BBQ, serving as head judge, and award-winning journalist Noah Pransky of 10 News returning for another year as the event emcee.
Guests are invited to board at 5 pm, and the yacht departs, weather permitting, at 5:30 pm. Passengers will sail along Tampa Bay as they sample the newest creations from the competing chefs. All dishes incorporate this year’s selected ingredient, Kahwa Coffee.
Guests also will enjoy desserts from sponsors Le’Ann’s Cheesecakes and Datz, unlimited beer, wine and sodas; and, for the VIP/Almost-VIP guests, also a complimentary open bar. Tickets are available at www.TopLocalChef.com.
There will be two winners: People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice. The people’s choice will be determined by public vote, at a dollar per vote, and all proceeds go to our nonprofit partner, the Kind Mouse Productions, which helps feed local children and families in need.
The judges’ choice will be determined by ranking on presentation, taste, and use of ingredient. In addition to head judge Ray Lampe, the judges’ panel features St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin; The Mill Restaurant owner/chef Ted Dorsey; Family Foodie founder Isabel Laesig; and USFSP visiting professor Janet Keeler, coordinator of the school’s food writing and photography graduate certificate program.
Another new component this year will be a student competition, sponsored by Out of the Weeds and Three Birds Tavern, and in cooperation with The Ryan Wells Foundation, which provides support and scholarships for students going into the culinary industry.
Two-time Top Local Chef winner Ramon Hernandez, of Pipo’s Cuban Cafe, is back this year as an event sponsor, along with sponsors Moorman Photographics, Kahwa Coffee and Out of the Weeds. Top Local Chef also features several other local businesses and nonprofits, including Club Savor, Intensity Academy Gourmet Sauces, Brimstone Originals and My Hope Chest.
Event goes on rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, the yacht will stay docked but Top Local Chef continues.
For information contact Ester Venouziou, LocalShops1 and Top Local Chef founder, at ester@localshops1.com or 727-637-5586.
About LocalShops1
LocalShops1 is a coalition of hundreds of independently owned businesses and tens of thousands of energetic shoppers with the mission of advocating, promoting and offering support services to companies throughout Tampa Bay. Founded in August 2008, LocalShops1 is the region’s most active voice for small businesses.