American Culinary Federation - Culinary Kudos -
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Published on: 1/1/2003
Last Visited: 5/22/2003
Eric Rappaport, CEC, works on his entry in the Taste of Elegance competition.Eric Rappaport, CEC, director of product development for Sodexho Retail Brand Group in Allentown, Pa., recently swept the National Pork Board's Taste of Elegance competition.Professional chefs from all over the mid-Atlantic region met in Baltimore to compete in three categories: grand prize (taste), people's choice (eye appeal), and wine pairing (sponsored by Kendall Jackson Winery).Rappaport swept all three categories, a first for the contest.His entry was Sakashima Pork and Mango Dumplings with Hamaguri Sauce served over a bed of sweet and sour Japanese long beans and garnished with fried rice noodles and a drizzle of Hamaguri sauce around the plate.He earned a $1,500 cash prize, which he donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley, and won a trip for two to the Kendall Jackson winery in California and a chance to continue on to the national Taste of Elegance competition in Des Moines in May.Rappaport, who is competitions chair for the ACF Greater Lehigh Valley Professional Chefs Association, has participated in more than 30 culinary competitions.