2024 NCRLA Chef Showdown Undeniably Dairy Awards Announced

The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) is hosting its eighth Chef Showdown on August 26, 2024. Presented by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, this annual competition promotes and spotlights the talent of chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and the local products available across the state of North Carolina.

The 2024 preliminary rounds of culinary competition featured 84 talented North Carolina chefs and pastry chefs. Following the preliminary and semi-final rounds, 20 of these chefs – 15 savory chefs and five pastry chefs – will be finalists, as well as 6 teams of mixologists and distilleries from an original 20. From these finalists will be named the NCRLA Chef of the Year and NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year, NCRLA Mixologist & Distillery of the Year and the 2024 NCRLA Mocktail of the Year.

While this competition is still ongoing, there are already reasons to celebrate. Leading up to the final competition, four “Undeniably Dairy Awards” presented by The Dairy Alliance are awarded to those who showcased the best use of dairy products in a savory plate, a dessert, a cocktail and a mocktail. This year’s Undeniably Dairy winners have been announced. Here are the recipes and creators awarded in 2024.

2024 Undeniably Dairy Award Winner for Dessert

Chef Mary Jayne Wilson of Thoughtful Baking Company in Charlotte, NC

This Summer Charlotte is a light and airy take on a classic dessert some southerners may better know as an icebox cake. This variation is made with the bold flavors and local ingredients of fresh summer berries and a buttermilk sponge cake surrounding a raspberry mousse, blueberry marmalade, buttermilk mousse, pecan crumb, and blueberry sauce.

2024 Undeniably Dairy Award Winner for Savory Plate

Theresa Norris of M Pocha in Durham, NC

Consisting of blackened North Carolina shrimp, pimento cheese and milk bread pudding, and chow-chow in a corn shrimp velouté, this savory dish is Southern charm with must-have dairy eats.

Double Winner of the 2024 Undeniably Dairy Award for a Cocktail and for a Mocktail

2024 Undeniably Dairy Award for a Mocktail

Mixologist Conley Marie of The Willard in Raleigh, NC

The winning mocktail, Creature Comforts, tastes just like a key lime pie! This mocktail is made with whole milk-soaked graham crackers garnishing a drink made with lime juice and zest, orange zest water, whole milk vanilla yogurt, simple syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated oat milk.

2024 Undeniably Dairy Award for a Cocktail

Mixologist Conley Marie of The Willard in Raleigh, NC, with Jonathan Blitz of Mystic Farm and Distillery in Durham, NC

The cocktail, Nostalgia is made with homemade ice cream made with local Mystic Arcana Bourbon, sugar, whole buttermilk, whole milk, heavy cream, vanilla, maple syrup, coffee simple syrup, and salt. Before serving, it is drizzled with a Montenegro dark chocolate sauce.

These delicious creations made with local dairy foods and other products can serve as inspiration for your dairy-based meals at home.

You can support this local-focused competition and its finalists later this month. Tickets for the August 26 NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale are on sale now at NCChefShowdown.com.