California Giant Berry Farms announced the winner of the 2023 Chef Invitational, Steven Halliday from Gordon Food Service. Halliday won the title of California Giant Berry Farms’ Top Chef with Red Thai Berry Chicken Curry with Blueberry Lemon Rice.
Judged against the criteria of best overall appearance, flavor and taste appeal, creativity, use of ingredients, key trends, and utilization of berries, the judges agreed that Chef Steven’s dish used berries in a unique way that packed a very flavorful, avant-garde punch.
Left to right: Steven Halliday, Tom Smith
“I’m thrilled to win the title,” said Halliday, a culinary specialist at Gordon Food Service. “I’m grateful to Gordon Food Service, Markon, and my family for their support. Participating in the California Giant Chef Invitational has been a transformational experience.”
In addition to the title, the chef semi-finalists had the chance to win the People’s Choice vote, and chef David McGurn was crowned the People’s Choice Chef with his recipe, Congee with Brulee Berries and Quick Berry Pickles.
The finale event included a three-day immersive experience for the chef finalists consisting of grower-led field tours, an educational session led by chef Rosalyn Darling, focusing on Culinary Compassion™ for meaningful menu development, and the grand finale itself.
Dishes are judged against the criteria of best overall appearance, flavor and taste appeal, creativity, use of ingredients, key trends, and utilization of berries.
“Our chefs are challenged to continually evolve their menus and grow their skillsets in the kitchen, and so we wanted to do the same for the experiences we provide to the participants of the Chef Invitational,” said Tom Smith, director of sales at California Giant. “The biggest difference this year was the addition of Darling’s Culinary Compassion™ session. Her work re-examines current methodologies of food and beverage innovation, determining that there is a deeper, more impactful way strategists and chefs can approach innovation.”
At the finale, the five chef finalists prepared their recipes to present to a panel of judges composed of previous Chef Invitational winners, including Derek Seigfried from Gordon Food Service, Sam Blackburn from Sodexo, Travis Peters, chef/co-owner at The Parish and The Delta in Tucson, Arizona, Luis Reyes from Sysco and cookbook author and wellness expert, Marie Reginato.
In line with California Giant’s commitment to philanthropy, the prize structure includes a matching gift to the non-profit organization of the winning chef’s choice. As winner, Halliday wins $1,000 cash and a matching grant towards his selected non-profit organization, The Giving Kitchen, as well as event participation as a brand ambassador for California Giant throughout the year. People’s Choice winner David McGurn won $500 cash and a matching grant for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
For more information:
Kyla Oberman
California Giant Berry Farms
Tel.: (831)786-7458
[email protected]
www.calgiant.com