September, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PLATTSBURGH, NY
The Adirondack Coast Wine, Cider &Food Festival is pleased to announce the Race To Taste Cooking competition that is being hosted as part of the October 12, 2013 festival. In support of Governor Andrew Cuomo's program -TASTE NEW YORK the cooking competition is open to all NY cooking and chef programs - free of charge. The goal of the Race to Taste competition is to showcase local N.Y. Farm products and the cutting edge culinary techniques of NY trained chefs and student chefs.

Several SUNY programs have accepted early invitations to participate in the first of its kind -Race to Taste cooking competition. The committee organizers encourage other NY culinary schools to consider attending this unique cooking competition. The Adirondack Coast Wine, Cider & Food Festival is a NY Farmers market and is held once every year on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend, which coincides with the three day Canadian Thanksgiving holiday. The festival provides International visitors and tourists from Vermont, the rest of New England as well as local New Yorkers an opportunity to experience the wines from the newly legislated Adirondack Coast Wine Trail in addition to local farm, agricultural & craft products.

The Adirondack Coast Wine, Cider &Food Festival is in its second year and is being  presented by The Adirondack Bank.  The organizers Elfs Farm Winery and the Adirondack Coast Visitors bureau are excited by the Race to Taste as a new way to showcase the strength of the Adirondack local food and farm movement. The sponsors of the festival include Hall Radio Group - Kool 105 and AM Joy; The Plattsburgh Free Press; Adirondack Cider Company; WCAX and the Chauvin Insurance Agency. Special thanks are extended to  the City of Plattsburgh for their continued support and use of the Crete Civic Center, on the shores of Lake Champlain.   

For more information on the festival or the Race to Taste please visit www.AdirondackCoastWineTrail.com. For media information or questions please contact Tom Frey of Elfs Farm Winery at [email protected] or cell at 518-593-7904.

RACE TO TASTE COOKING COMPETITION

Overview:

This competitive cooking program is open to all NY cooking schools free of charge. The goal is to showcase the use of local NY farm products and to help strengthen cutting edge NY cooking techniques.

Each school is responsible for all of its own cooking materials, equipments, spices and adjuncts. The festival will supply the base food ingredients including a protein, vegetables and starch. Products will be based on local products where possible

Several hours will be allotted for menu development, prep and cooking. Small plates for at least thirty judges is the goal for each school. The Adirondack Coast Race to Taste Trophy will be presented to the winning school based on the votes from the VIP judges. Tee shirts will be presented to all participants. 

This year the first, the Race to Taste will be based on basic and primitive techniques in a celebration of the Adirondack Coast's rugged outdoor bases. The cooking method will be outdoor barbecue. Each team will be provided with cinder blocks, a metal grate and wood. The surprise package may contain pork, lamb, venison, or chicken. Maple syrup, honey or sweet cider may be included. Wine or hard cider may be included. Local veggies, potatoes, carrots or corn may be included. Other local ingredients might be included as we think of them or they are suggested. 

The actual festival opens at 12 and we expect to serve our VIP guest judges their meals at 4pm. The cooking area will be open at 8 am and the surprise ingredient packages will be presented around 10 am. This will be subject to change to accommodate more schools and site logistics.