Metropolitan Agriculture Group to Host “The Next Urban Chef” Contest

DETROIT / FLINT, Mich.— The Detroit-Flint Metropolitan  Agriculture group is looking for future chefs to participate in the first annual “The Next Urban Chef” contest. This contest is aimed at promoting healthy cooking and choosing local foods to youth and young adults.

“The Next Urban Chef” will consist of a cooking face-off between a participant from Flint and a participant from Detroit in two categories, youth and adult. Participants may not be chefs or have professional culinary training.  

Interested participants should submit an essay to [email protected] addressing the following items:
-    A biography including why you have an interest in food/cooking.
-    What is/would be your signature dish and what ingredients/cooking materials would you use?
-    Why is it important to choose fresh, local food from Michigan?
-    Anything else you feel is important for the panel to know.

Essays need to be postmarked or e-mailed no later than July 31, 2011 to be considered.  

A panel of judges from both Detroit and Flint will review the essays and select semi-finalists from Flint and Detroit.  Semi-finals for Detroit will take place in September and for Flint will take place on September 10, 2011 at the Flint Farmers’ Market.  Final participants will compete for “The Next Urban Chef” title at Eastern Market in Detroit on Friday, October 7th.  
 
The Detroit – Flint Regional Food System (Metropolitan Agriculture) team is a network of individuals and organizations within the Detroit-Flint regional food shed that has come together to spur innovation by connecting and amplifying  great projects already underway and leveraging expertise to develop a robust regional food systems in eastern Michigan.  The work is based on the premise that it will take a full range of community and commercial ventures to develop an effective regional food system as a catalyst for change in our region.  
 
Project participants from Flint and Detroit have agreed to implement several initiatives that will connect the region and build a stronger regional identity.  These burgeoning efforts include urban agriculture youth education, asset mapping of existing food system initiatives, a local food plan to strategically connect entrepreneurs, practitioners, and institutions in specialized food processing, and an urban chef event to model and encourage  seasonal, healthy eating and cooking.  
 

For more information, please visit “The Next Urban Chef” Facebook page or e-mail us at [email protected].


 

The Next Urban Chef is 100% Volunteer Powered. The Organizers, Chefs, Local Farmers, Local Products, Facilities and Media Partners are all donating their time and energy to create this wonderful event. If you have the ability, please donate a few dollars so we may purchase some items that will be needed. Thank You!