Does anyone know who won the Kentucky Derby?  Does anyone care?

The Junior League's Mint Julep Jubilee was so fun that a lot of people didn't pay attention to who won the actual horse race!  This popular event certainly has grown over the last four years and has quickly become a favorite event in the area.  There were sundresses, big hats, tall wedges, and of course, lots of mint juleps!

Proceeds will go to the league's continued efforts to help fight poverty in local schools.

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From the rock to the dock, if there's one thing to splurge on this year, it's got to be a ticket or two to the competitive dining series across North Carolina.  This is such an incredible, collaborative effort by so many chefs, farmers, and diners across the state.

I had the terrible job of being a judge at a quarterfinal competition.  Actually, it was terrible.  Trying to pick a winner between two talented chefs was hard!  Thankfully, my tastebuds took over, and I really didn't know who I was voting for.  Everyone in the audience votes without knowing who made the dish.

I really liked the founder's desciption of the event.  Jimmy Crippen said it was basically like March Madness.  There are 64 chefs statewide who start in the competition.  There are four regions.  We are "Fire on the Dock."  (The Blowing Rock area is "Fire on the Rock", the Greensboro-area is "Fire in the Triad", and the Raleigh-area is "Fire in the Triangle.")

Ultimately, there will be a grand showdown.  But that won't be until the fall.

I judged the competition between Persimmons Restaurant in New Bern and Yosake in Wilmington.  The secret ingredients were poulet rouge fermier du piedmont and The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley.  Say what?  {poo-lay rooj faremyay do pee moan}

Basically poulet rouge is chicken, but it has darker meat, thinner skin and a tougher texture.  The organic poulet rouge came from Ashley Farms in Winston-Salem.

For all of you who like to take pictures of their food (I do, too...) here ya go:

If you really want to know, the best dish was the last one - the dessert.  I mean, it was out of this world, and I don't even like sweets!