“Fish to Fork” Culinary Weekend in Florida
The sixth annual “Fish to Fork” culinary weekend takes place May 9 through 12, 2019, at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, 39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Since it’s Mothers’ Day weekend, there’s an all-female chef lineup.
Each chef will bring her unique style to the event. Three-time Fish to Fork competitor Kathleen Blake, owner and chef of The Rusty Spoon in Orlando, Florida, is making her return to the competition as emcee, together with Kate Harris of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Women chefs from across the country will showcase their fishing and culinary skills in the event that takes attendees through a gastronomic experience culminating in a final chef showdown where a live vote from event guests will declare a winner.
This year’s competitors include:
Whitney Otawka, culinary director, Greyfield Inn (Cumberland Island, Georgia). Otawka is a cookbook author who has appeared on Top Chef and was named a Rising Star Chef in Atlanta.
Maneet Chauhan, executive chef, Chauhan Ale & Masala House (Nashville, Tennessee). Chauhan is a winner of the James Beard Award of Excellence and has appeared on the television programs “Chopped,” “Iron Chef” and “The Next Iron Chef.”
Alexia Gawlak, chef and partner, Swine & Sons (Orlando, Florida). Gawlak has contributed to Orlando’s food scene for more than 20 years, and is a champion of local cuisine.
Kerri Rogers, executive chef, Bellwether (Jacksonville, Florida). Rogers is known for her culinary creativity when it comes to creating inspiring dishes with North Florida flavor and ingredients.
Kelly Franz, executive chef, Magnolias (Charleston, South Carolina). Franz is a member of the Charleston Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, and was runner-up in season 6 of Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” and “Bite Club” in 2018.
Stacy Cogswell (Boston, Massachusetts). Cogswell is a native New Englander who is the author of The New England Cookbook and starred in season 12 of Bravo’s “Top Chef.”
May 10, each chef will embark on a fishing excursion in collaboration with Amelia Island charter captains. This is in anticipation of the Main Event from 6 to 9:30 p.m. May 11, when their catch-of-the-day will be transformed into a signature dish for judging. Later in the evening, two teams of three chefs will compete in the Team Challenge to create dishes that utilize a surprise secret ingredient unveiled before the challenge commences.
During the evening, guests will taste and vote on the items prepared during both the Individual Challenge and Team Challenge to determine the winners. The competing chefs will also vote to determine the Chef’s Choice winner.
(Photo courtesy of Omni Hotels and Resorts)
