2009 Manatee Festival of the Arts
Culinary Arts Venue
and Competition
 

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Three years ago, the Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts included the Culinary Arts by featuring a lively Culinary Arts Competition. Now for 2009 the Culinary Arts will be bigger and better! This year we're featuring:

   Cooking classes by Executive Chef Robert from Winn Dixie
   Live demonstrations by chefs from Ruth Chris Steakhouse in Tampa, Little Harbor in Ruskin, Apollo's Bistro in Apollo Beach, Christine's Carribbean Cuisine in Riverview.
   A live demonstration by Progress Village Middle School Latchkey Culinary Group
   Wine tastings on Saturday and Sunday by PRP Wines. Beer Tasting by JJ Taylor Distributing of Tampa
   Demonstrations by local Chefs and by Hydro Harvest Farms of Ruskin
 

And back once again, our famous...

Culinary Arts Competition

This year's Competition, sponsored by Mosaic, will feature teams of culinary arts students from East Bay High School, Riverview High School and Sickles High School.  All 3 are excellent culinary programs with teams who are ready to cook before the crowd!  Riverview and Sickles will be defending their title against East Bay High School from our 2007 Competition. The 2009 competition will explode with 3 high schools competing for the title.

These teams will be traveling to Apollo Beach to prepare their menus. At 11:00 on Saturday each team will be given a boneless pork loin and begin their prep. At Noon, the Competition Begins!  They'll then have one hour to prepare a meal that's nutritious, imaginary, and of course delicious.  The results will be evaluated by our panel of four professional judges.  Cash prizes will go to the winner of the Competition based on the judges' results.  There'll also be a separate Peoples' Choice award given by attendees chosen from the Festival crowds!  This is an exciting time for the students and everyone watching them work.

Culinary events are scheduled through the day including samplings of delicious food from local notable restaurants sponsored by Winn Dixie Stores Inc., throughout both days throughout the Festival.  Come out to see our Culinary venue and of course our exciting Competition on Saturday!

Click  for a schedule of Culinary events.

Click to see our Award Winning Video of the

2007 Culinary Competition Award Winners

The 2009 Culinary Arts Committee assembled all Culinary activities at the festival including our Culinary Arts Competition.  The committee members were Crystal Russell and Joanne Gadek. The Festival's Culinary venue would not be possible without the generous sponsorship of Mosaic and Winn Dixie Stores, Inc..