Minnesota Pork Taste of Elegance Pork Cooking Competition

The Taste of Elegance is a culinary competition for Minnesota’s best chefs to show off their pork cooking skills.

2020 Taste of Elegance Cookbook

2020 Winners

First Place – Chef Par Excellence – Tim McCarty, Cheeky Belly

Chef Tim McCarty – CHEEKY BELLY – PRESSURE-COOKED PORK CHEEKS, BOURBON VANILLA BEAN-GLAZED PORK BELLY BURNT ENDS, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BACON, FRESH RICOTTA, SHIITAKE SMEAR WITH PORK STOCK SPAETZLIS, PICKLED RED ONION AND FRIED SAGE

Second Place – Shawn Lowman – French Onion Brandided Pork Shank

Chef Shawn Lowman – FRENCH ONION BRANDIED PORK SHANK WITH MOLTEN GRUYÈRE, ROASTED CORN AND PECAN-SMOKED COPPA SUCCOTASH, SOUS VIDE
PORK BELLY AU GRATINS, CANDIED PANCETTA

Third Place – Michael Beck – Apple Wrapped Pork Loin with Chipotle Grits

Chef Michael Beck –
APPLE-WRAPPED PORK LOIN WITH CHIPOTLE GRITS

People’s Choice – Shawn Lowman – French Onion Brandided Pork Shank

Table Display – Francis O’Brien – Braised Pork Belly Bahn Mi

2020 Chefs

Michael Beck, Hilton Minneapolis
Damon Holter, Croix Valley Foods
Keith A. Huffman, Chef Keith’s Culinary Products
Shawn Lowman, Quarter Deck
Francis O’Brien , Minneapolis Renaissance, The Depot
Tim McCarty, Mayo Foundation House, Rochester* Chef Par Excellence
Matt Vansgard, Brio
John VanHouse, Grand Casinos, Hinckley

Chefs compete for prizes and opportunities to compete and learn at a National level while attending the Midwest Pork Summit.

Sponsors for Taste of Elegance

Gislason & Hunter LLP
Hormel Foods
Eide Bailly, LLC

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