Taste Dining & Travel Magazine’s recent Chef’s Competition was a great success with eight restaurants and their respective chefs competing in a friendly event to determine who had the best entree.

The event was held in the Freedom Village Tuscany Room as guests enjoyed appetizers and desserts from Freedom Village along with wine and eight small plate entrees from the competing chefs.

A silent auction was also held with benefits of the evening’s proceeds going to the Women’s Resource Center of Manatee.

Restaurants, chefs (and their entrees) participating in the event were

n Ocean Harvest Market and Grill - Chef Mark Baker

Coriander Dusted Sea Scallops with Okinawan sweet potatoes, baby asparagus and truffle bacon reduction

n Pier 22 -- Chef Greg Campbell

Orange Chicken with fried rice and wok vegetables

n The Feast -- Chef Christopher Dale

Braised BBQPork Ribs

n SoMa Diner -- Chef David Shiplett

Thai Beef Tenderloin and ginger salad with curried vinaigrette

n The Sandbar -- Chef Ian Fairweather

Shrimp with grits and bacon and pork au jus

n Freedom Village -- Chef Eric Babb

Effiloche - 7 hour braised beef accompanied by potato mousseline

n Popi’s Place -- Chef Popi Ameres

Chicken Marsala with Greek Salad

n El Warike -- Chef Jorge Corzo

Corvina in Macho Sauce (a Peruvian seafood sauce)

Guests were able to cast one vote for their favorite dish and the winners were:

n First place Eric Babb of Freedom Village

n Second place was Mark Baker of Ocean Harvest Market and Grill

n Third place to Jorge Corzo of El Warike

-- Submitted by

Neal Finelli