Food Truck Chefs Join The Competition For This Year's "Epicurious Vino Challenge"

RALEIGH, N.C. - June 3, 2013 - PRLog -- (Raleigh, NC) -- Food trucks, a new fixture in the modern culinary world, are the fastest-growing segment of the dining industry, according to a recent ABC News report. And this year, chefs from three of these restaurants-on-wheels will join other “brick-and-mortar” chefs and culinary students for the annual Epicurious Vino Challenge, which will be held again at Hinnant Family Vineyards in Pine Level, NC, on June 29 from 6-10 p.m.

The Epicurious Vino Challenge is RHA Howell’s most popular annual fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting children and adults with disabilities that the statewide non-profit organization has served for 40 years.

The Challenge requires participating chefs to select one of Hinnant’s award-winning wines and use it to create a signature dish. On the night of the event, the chefs set up tables in the winery’s Tank Room and serve their dishes to all the guests. The crowd then votes for the People’s Choice winners while a panel of professional chefs from U.S. Food Service selects the Chefs’ Choice winners in an evaluation of taste, presentation, and use of the chosen Hinnant Wine.

RHA Howell confirmed the line-up recently, which, for the first time, includes food truck chefs. The professionals and students who will compete in the 2013 Epicurious Vino Challenge are:

> Chef Nick Crosson of Porchetta Food Truck & Catering, who chose “Loggerhead Red,” a semi-sweet red with fruit tones and a crisp finish.
> Chef Mike of Blue Sky Dining Food Truck, who chose Southern Red, perfect for cured meats, BBQ, and pasta.  
> Chef Ashley Cogdell and Team Chirba of Chirba Chirba Dumpling Truck, who chose “Carolina Wildflower,” a sweet floral white.
> Chefs Jennifer and Mark Gibbons of Tickle My Ribs restaurant in Burlington, who selected “Norton,” a full-bodied dry red wine with a hint of oak.
> Chef Wes Dills, events manager at Hinnant Family Vineyards, who selected the semi-sweet “Blanc du Bois,” a fruity wine with tropical notes of grapefruit and pineapple.
> Chef Seth Batchelor of Odds & Endive Food Service Consulting in Durham, who selected a sweeter version of the tropical "Banc de Bois."
> Chef Trista Rose Swinson of Sweetened Celebrations in Selma, who selected “Strawberry,” a sweet wine made entirely from local strawberries.
> Culinary student Antonia Caldera of The Art Institute of Raleigh/Durham, who chose the “Pomegranate,” a slightly sweet and tart wine.
> Culinary student James (Beau) Schoenholz of The Art Institute of Raleigh/Durham, who chose the Chardonnay with hints of citrus and green apple.
> Chef James Casellow of Zest Café & Home Art in Raleigh, who selected the “Tar Heel Red,” a medium-sweet red muscadine wine.

Along with the opportunity to sample original dishes, the event will include music provided by the popular band “Idle Threat,” free wine tastings, specialty martinis, and a live auction. Proceeds from the auction will also benefit children and adults with disabilities.  

Sponsors for the 2013 Epicurous Vino Challenge are: RHA Howell, Hinnant Family Vineyards, U.S. Food Service, Southern Pharmacy Services, Triangle Arts and Entertainment.com, Nomacorc, Van Products, Morcom Medical Associates, Wake Stone Corporation, and Telepathic Graphics.

Tickets to the Epicurious Vino Challenge are $40 for individual outdoor seating, $60 for reserved individual indoor seating, $300 for reserved patio tables (seating 10), and $500 for reserved indoor tables (seating 10). Tickets can be ordered at http://www.rhahowell.org/EVC.aspx.

Hinnant Family Vineyards, the largest muscadine vineyard in North Carolina, is located at 826 Pine Level Micro Rd, Pine Level, NC 27568 (919-965-3350). For directions: www.hinnantvineyards.com.

For more information on the Epicurious Vino Challenge and RHA Howell, visit www.rhahowell.org.

About RHA Howell:
RHA Howell has been providing supports and services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for more than 35 years. We work closely with individuals and their families to make their lives as independent as possible with an emphasis on community inclusion.  Mrs. Irene Howell founded the original Howell Care Center in 1970. Over the next 30 years, Mrs. Howell established a network of Howell Care Centers and, upon her retirement, entrusted her legacy to RHA Health Services. Today, RHA Howell, Inc., carries on the Howell Care Centers tradition.