Skuna Bay Salmon Kentucky Derby Chef Challenge Finalists Emerge

Gold River, B.C.  — The Finalists have been determined. After eight grueling first round competitions pitting 28 chefs followed by two Semi Final battles featuring the remaining eight chefs, the best two chefs emerged and will now travel to the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY to battle in the Final on April 30, 2014. Both finalists will also appear on behalf of Skuna Bay at the Taste of Derby, the Kentucky Derby culinary event on May 1st.

Winning the Eastern Semi Final competition on April 14,2014 at Sullivan University in Louisville, KY was Chef Edward Sura from legendary Chicago restaurant Perennial Virant. Chef Edward presented an almost perfect execution of seared Skuna Bay Salmon crusted with smoked and ground Bluegrass soy mash and home pickled baby corn relish. Chef Edward narrowly beat out other competitors Charles Vogt of Mussel Bar and Grill at Revel Hotel in Atlantic City; Alan Peet of Isabela’s on Grandview in Pittsburgh and Alan Dancyger, chef at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York City.

The next day, on April 15th at Roy’s Pasadena, Chef Sarah Schafer, Executive Chef at Irving Street Kitchen in Portland, Oregon beat an incredibly strong and talented field of chefs to win the Western Semi Final event. Chef Sarah’s dish, a 90 minute cured Skuna Bay Salmon with salmon belly potato latkes and Skuna Bay caviar was the winning plate over strong competitors Eric Samaniego of Little Sparrow in Santa Ana, CA; Lon Symensma of ChoLon Bistro in Denver, CO; and Tedd Romero of Lucy at Bardessono Hotel in Yountville, CA.

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