The National Chicken Council and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association have announced the names — and recipe titles — of the 51 cooks who will compete in the National Cook-Off of the 45th National Chicken Cooking Contest on May 30 in Baltimore, Maryland.
“We have an outstanding field of contestants, representing a wide range of cooking styles and recipe ideas,” said Contest Director Nancy Tringali Piho. “May the best chicken cook win!”
The contestants include one from every state and the District of Columbia. They range from sweet to savory — that is, from Elaine Sweet of Dallas, Texas, cooking Pecos Chicken with Sweet Potato-Onion Chutney, to Paul Savory of Omaha, Nebraska, with his Apollo Chicken Puffs with Cucumber and Dill Sauce.
The field consists of five men and 46 women. Eight of the contestants were in the last National Cook-Off, held in Sacramento, California, in the spring of 2001.
The contest, in which all the contestants cook their recipes twice over a three-hour period, once for judging and once for display, is judged by a panel of food writers from major newspapers and magazines. The grand prize is $25,000.
“The contest always attracts a wide variety of recipes, and this year is no exception,” said Ms. Piho. “We’ve got everything from chicken leek soup to chicken tikka strips. Our judges are in for a treat.”
A list of contestants by state, with their hometowns and recipe titles, is attached.
CONTESTANTS 45TH National Chicken Cooking Contest
ALABAMA – Prudence Hilburn, Piedmont, Chicken Galette Provencale with Lemon Basil Sauce
ALASKA – Joanne Parent, Anchorage, Chicken Leek Soup
ARIZONA – Mary Hawkes, Prescott, Sonoran Chicken Piccata with Peppered Couscous
ARKANSAS – Ella Mae Pearson, Hot Springs, Stove-Top Bar-B-Que Chicken Drumsticks
CALIFORNIA – Stephanie Howard, Oakland, Chicken and Plantain Fajitas with Mango Salsa
COLORADO – Lisa Carr, Cedaredge, Chicken Nori Salad Rolls
CONNECTICUT – John Turley, Meriden, Balsamic-Molasses Chicken
DELAWARE – Sharon Collison, Newark, Thai Chicken Wraps
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – Wendy Tien, Washington, Chicken and Shiitake Mushroom Dumplings
FLORIDA – Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Guava-Sauced Chicken
GEORGIA – Dr. Joy Hafner Bailey, Lilburn, Mango Panko Drumsticks
HAWAII – Kristine Snyder, Kihei, Pacific Rim Chicken Burgers with Sweet Ginger Mayonnaise
IDAHO – Corene Stokes, Kamiah, Oriental Chicken Noodle Soup
ILLINOIS – Amir Sheikh, Calumet City, Herbed Chicken and Rice with Curried Onion Sauce
INDIANA – Marge Walker, Santa Claus, Balsamic Glazed Chicken with Sweet Bell Pepper Mint Melange
IOWA – Diane Sparrow, Osage, Latin Chicken with Cuban Rum Sauce
KANSAS – Brenda Goll, Salina, Asian Barbecue Chicken
KENTUCKY – Susan Runkle, Walton, Chicken Tikka Strips with Ginger Plum Sauce and Honey Mango Relish
LOUISIANA – Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Herbed Artichoke Chicken
MAINE – Rae Eastman, Fryeburg, Gingersnap, Apricot, Walnut Chicken Thighs
MARYLAND – Liz Barclay, Annapolis, Maple-Encrusted Chicken with Creamy Nectarine-Brandy Sauce
MASSACHUSETTS – Claudia Shepardson, South Yarmouth, Golden Herbed Chicken with Creamy Orange Sauce
MICHIGAN – Sally Sibthorpe, Rochester Hills, Golden Chicken Loaf
MINNESOTA – Jamie Miller, Maple Grove, Moroccan Chicken and Squash Tagine
MISSISSIPPI – Barbara Pearce , Jackson, Orzo Chicken Salad
MISSOURI – Pat Neaves, Kansas City, Chicken Sandwiches Smothered with Carmelized Onions
MONTANA – Karen Kinser, Joliet, Caramelized Onions with Five Spice Chicken and Star Anise Glaze
NEBRASKA – Paul Savory, Omaha, Apollo Chicken Puffs with Cucumber and Dill Sauce
NEVADA – Linda Weber, Reno, Wine Country Chicken Pasta
NEW HAMPSHIRE – Cheryl Dissinger, Temple, New England Chicken Pastries
NEW JERSEY – Devon Delaney, Princeton, Chicken Legs Mole with Corn Salad Pancakes
NEW MEXICO – Herman Li, Edgewood, Ricotta Chicken Timbale on Polenta
NEW YORK – Sherry Aufmuth, Milford, Maple-Glazed Rosemary Chicken with Figs
NORTH CAROLINA – Jim Utley, Raleigh, Chick’n Lick’n Brunch Pudding with Pecan Pepper Jack Streusel
NORTH DAKOTA – Jean Quanbeck, Minot, Italian Chicken Patties
OHIO – Margaret Blakely, New Philadelphia, Chili Cheese Chicken Salad with Pumpkin Seed Salsa
OKLAHOMA – Leah Lyon, Ada, Scalloped Chicken Maquechoux
OREGON – Betty Jean Nichols, Eugene, Cranberry-Kissed Chicken Thighs with Saucy Wild Rice
PENNSYLVANIA – Patricia Harmon, Baden, Cider Braised Chicken Thighs with Gingered Beet and Apple-Pecan Relish
RHODE ISLAND – Linda Miranda, Wakefield, Pulled Jerk Chicken Thighs on Sweet Potato Pancake Stacks
SOUTH CAROLINA – Joy Perpetua, Myrtle Beach, Tango Tequilla Chicken
SOUTH DAKOTA – Aleta Van Kampen, Rapid City, International Chicken Salad with Roasted Sesame Seed and Almond Dressing
TENNESSEE – Pam Rieben, Murfreesboro, Harvest Chicken
TEXAS – Elaine Sweet, Dallas, Pecos Chicken with Sweet Potato-Onion Chutney
UTAH – Jean Williams, Salt Lake City, Citrus Chicken Thighs with Avocado Butter
VERMONT – Liane Mendez, Williston, Orange-Ginger Braised Chicken
VIRGINIA – Lori Welander, Richmond, Balsamic Chicken with Antipasto Relish
WASHINGTON – Kathleen Johnson, Ellensburg, Coriander-Chile Chicken Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette
WEST VIRGINIA – Marion Zwicker, Wheeling, Curried Chicken Chowder with Sweet Potatoes
WISCONSIN – Patricia Schroedl, Jefferson, Bangkok Chicken Sate with Peppered Peanut Sauce
WYOMING – Annelise Domhoff, Thermopolis, Apricot Chicken
The National Chicken Council represents integrated chicken producer-processors, the companies that produce, process and market chickens. Member companies of NCC account for approximately 95 percent of the chicken sold in the United States. The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is a national organization that represents its members in all aspects of poultry and eggs on both a national and an international level. Its mission revolves around research, education, communication, and product promotion.