HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS RECIPE CHALLENGE PRIZES AWARDED

CHICAGO, IL - A panel of culinary chefs from the Illinois Institute of Art selected the winning recipes from the 7 finalist. More than 500 original recipes were submitted to IGA stores across the country during IGA’s annual Hometown Holidays marketing event held each November.

Grand Prize winner of a five-day/four-night cruise for two to the Western Caribbean, including round trip airfare
EL RANCHO MARKET IGA; Chandler, Ariz.
Victoria Johnson
Cream of Potato, Amber Bock, and Parsley Soup with Pan-Seared Scallops

1st Place Winner of $500
SUSANVILLE SUPERMARKET IGA; Susanville, Calif.
James L. Easterling
Jimmy’s Flaming Filet Mignons

2nd Place Winner of $250
BLACK CREEK IGA; Black Creek, Wisc.
Marilyn Blankschien
Caramel Pecan Apple Tassies

Finalists Included:

ROCKPORT IGA; Rockport, Mass.
Lesley Pew
German Style Chocolate Cheesecake

SPD, IGA; Nevada City, Calif.
Hank Schriefer
Chicken Breast With Balsamic Shallot Sauce

BUCK’S IGA; Indianapolis, Ind.
Kelly Boe
Holiday Sweet Potato Casserole

LITTLE APPLE MARKET IGA; Allentown, Penn.
Shirley DeSanti
Tropical Fruit ‘N Nut Bread

Each of the seven finalists and a guest traveled to Chicago on April 15th for a three-day/ two-night prize package stay at the Chicago Hilton Downtown. On April 16th, each of the seven finalists’ recipes were prepared and evaluated by a panel of culinary masters from The Illinois Institute of Art–Chicago’s Culinary Arts program. The recipes were judged on three criteria: taste, creativity and ability to reproduce the desired dish based on recipe directions.

“This year’s Hometown Holidays Recipe Challenge was undoubtedly the best we have had both in terms of recipes and the overall experience,” said IGA Marketing Events Coordinator Zorona Chapman. “I would like to thank The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago for offering their prestigious Culinary Arts facility as the venue for our cook-off, as well as the generous Red Oval Family partners who made the entire event possible.”

IGA, the only global supermarketer based in the United States, is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $21 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 4,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 36 distribution companies and more the 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA ranks in the top 10 in world food supermarketing. IGA has operations in 48 of the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.