Baconfest Chicago

Greetings Bacon-nation:

We’d like to welcome a MAJOR sponsor aboard.  NUESKE’S BACON based in Wittenberg, Wisconsin.
Their bacon is great.  We love them.

Because they are fun and cool, they want part of their sponsorship to include an amateur cook-off!

Interested competitors should write andre@baconfestchicago.com with the following info:

Your name:
Contact e-mail/phone number
A description of the dish you’d like to make.  Including an ingredient list.
If possible a photo of said bacon-dish.  (The committed will be rewarded.)

We at Baconfest will choose our favorite 5 entries.

Those accepted will be required to do the following:
Attend Baconfest on April 10th as guests of Nueske’s and Baconfest Chicago. 3pm-6pm shift.
Bring 10 tasting portions of your dish to be served to a panel of selected judges (including some of the the BFC pro-chefs).
Be present for a judges critique panel.  (Yes, I am trying to get Padma Lakshmi there.)
Be present for the Golden Rashers Awards ceremony at 5:40pm when the winner of the Nueske’s Bacon Amateur Cook-off will be announced and presented with a Golden-Rasher Trophy.

Parameters of your dish:
We are PACKED solid that day between guests/chefs/vendors/sponsors.  You will NOT be given facilities to prep your dish on site.  We will give you the ability to heat your dish (if so desired) prior to serving.  Take this into account when planning your recipe!  We will provide plates/flatware for serving.  Other than that, let your imaginations run wild.  Beverage pairings are acceptable.

Ok Bacon-nation, let’s hear some recipes!

****NEW INFO RE: DEADLINE****

So lot’s of you have been asking when is the deadline to submit your recipe/picture.  Fair question.  Answer:  Thursday March 18th at noon.

On the definition of “Amateur”:  You can NOT have been employed as a professional Chef (i.e. employed at a restaurant where people payed to eat your food) since Jimmy Carter was in office.  I’m not gonna run FBI checks or anything – I trust your integrity bacon-nation :-)

Andre Vonbaconvitch

Introducing the 24 Guest Chefs for Baconfest Chicago 2010:

See the “Tickets!!” Tab (up and to the right) for more info on purchasing tix.

Shift 1:  11am-2pm

Big Jones – Chef Paul Fehribach

Boka – Chef Giuseppe Tentori

Café Matou – Chef Charlie Socher

Hearty Boys – Chef Dan Smith

Longman and Eagle – Chef Jared Wentworth

Province – Chef Randy Zweiban

Socca – Chef Roger Herring

Sable Kitchen and Bar – Chef Heather Terhune

Otom – Chef Thomas Bowman

Veerasway – Chef Steven Hubbell

One sixtyblue – Chef Michael McDonald

The Bristol – Chef Chris Pandel

Shift 2:  3pm-6pm

Atwood Cafe – Chef Derek Simcik

Southwater Kitchen – Chef Chris Lateano

Balsan – Chef Jason McLeod

Chalkboard – Chef Gilbert Langlois

David Burke’s Primehouse – Chef Rick Gresh

Eve Restaurant – Chef Troy Graves

The Purple Pig – Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr.

Lula Cafe – Chef Jason Hammel

Paddy Long’s – Chef Chris Latchford

Vie – Sous Chef Nathan Sears

The Signature Room – Chef Patrick Sheerin

Piccolo Sogno – Chef Tony Priolo

(Both shifts subject to change.)