{"id":2906,"date":"2022-08-23T16:21:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T23:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodconnectorproduction.com\/calmex\/?p=2906"},"modified":"2023-04-18T13:23:22","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T20:23:22","slug":"winners-crowned-in-inaugural-cal-mex-foodservice-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realcaliforniamilkfoodservice.com\/cal-mex-invitational\/winners-crowned-in-inaugural-cal-mex-foodservice-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"WINNERS CROWNED IN INAUGURAL CAL-MEX FOODSERVICE COMPETITION"},"content":{"rendered":"

SHOWCASING RECIPE INNOVATION USING CALIFORNIA\u2019S HISPANIC-STYLE CHEESES<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chefs from Georgia, California, & Illinois earn $5,000 for crafting on-trend dishes marrying flavors from California and Mexico <\/em><\/p>\n

Tracy, Calif. (August 23, 2022) \u2013 The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) today announced the winners of the 2022 Cal-Mex Invitational \u2013 its inaugural culinary competition to find the nation\u2019s top recipes that incorporate Hispanic-style cheeses and dairy from California with Mexican cuisine and California flavors.<\/p>\n

Chefs Chad Clevenger of Atlanta, Ga., Claud Beltran of Pasadena, Calif., and Marco Colin of Chicago, Ill., won $5,000 each in the cook-off finals while competing in three meal categories: Appetizer, Entr\u00e9e, and Dessert. Each chef received a trophy, $5,000 cash prize and the distinction of being a Cal-Mex culinary pioneer.<\/p>\n

The event is a new foodservice competition that celebrates Cal-Mex, an emerging trend in foodservice nationwide. Cal-Mex marries California and Mexican cuisines and spotlights recipes featuring California cheese and dairy products.<\/p>\n

The cook-off finals, which took place at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Copia in Napa, Calif., included six professional chefs selected from a group of culinary experts from throughout the U.S. who submitted recipes in the three categories for review by the judging panel.<\/p>\n

Three nationally recognized chefs judged the live event: Ben Diaz, Executive Chef of Leoness Cellars in Southern California; Claudette Zepeda, San Diego-based Chef and Culinary Entrepreneur; and Barbara Alexander, California-based Certified Executive Chef and Culinary Educator. The judges scored dishes in each category based on factors including taste, innovation, and creative use of Hispanic-style cheeses and dairy products made with Real California Milk.<\/p>\n

The winning chefs and dishes for the 2022 Cal-Mex Invitational are:<\/p>\n

Appetizer Category Winner: La Menonita en El Molcajete<\/u><\/p>\n