Executive Chef Ben Harris Wins First Round of Got To Be North Carolina Competition Dining Series

    RALEIGH, NC, January 22, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In an exciting six-course, very close culinary battle, Midtown Grille's executive chef Ben Harris took the honors against Gerry Fong, 2012 winner of Fire on the Dock in Wilmington, in the Got to Be NC Competition Dining series. The competition took place January 19 at 1705 Prime Chophouse with over 100 ticketed guests and professional culinary judges attending.

Votes from patrons were calculated at 30% and the professional chefs' votes accounted for 70% of the total score. Each chef anonymously prepared three courses. Harris won roundsone and and three for his scallop dish and dessert. Fong took the honors for his pork belly dish. All ingredients were locally sourced and the special ingredient required in each course was mangalitsa ham. The competition was tough and scoring resulted in 27.42313354 for Harris and 27.15849057 for Fong. Scoring results are at www.competitiondining.com/results/chef-gerry-fong-v-midtown-grille.

Event host Jimmy Crippen announced at the end of the night the two chef were only three one-hundredths of a point apart and at the end of the night it all came down to the dessert. Chef Harris' winning dessert, titled simply, "Chocolate" included milk chocolate custard, a dark chocolate torte, Johnston County Mangalitsa Ham salted caramel and "Fluff".

"I couldn't be more thrilled," says Harris, who will go on to compete in the quarterfinals on February 9. Perhaps his lucky charm is his one-of-a-kind apron created by his wife Christina.

The final battle for the Triangle Championship will be held March 2, following 15 individual competitions. At stake is a $2,000 cash prize, a handmade chef knife by Ironman Forge and the coveted "Red Chef Jacket." Regional competitions take place in Raleigh, Charlotte and Winston-Salem. All regional winners will compete in the battle of champions at the end of the year. Tickets are available at www.competitiondining.com/events/2015-triangle.

ABOUT MIDTOWN GRILLE
Nestled in North Hills, Raleigh, Midtown Grille is an intimate restaurant and bar that offers seasonal, locally-sourced lunch, dinner and brunch menus, a diverse wine list and sommelier on staff and hand-crafted cocktails in a casual luxe atmosphere with private and open air dining options. Established in 2006, Midtown Grille is locally-owned and relies on local North Carolina produce and meats, and prides itself on providing Southern hospitality, while combining New American and classic Southern flavors with new fusion techniques and styles.

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