Top Chef of the Champlain Valley

Sam Palmisano of Pulcinella's will try to defend his title as Top Chef at the third annual Top Chef of the Champlain Valley, an Iron Chef Experience to benefit the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging on Aug 10 at UVM's Davis Center. Palmisano will go head to head with Chef Robert Barral of Café Provence and JJ Vezina of the Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub.

Palmisano is a Vermont native and a fourth generation chef. He is the Executive Chef and owner of Pulcinella's in South Burlington. In May of 2002, Palmisano won the first national annual "Sunkist Signature Recipes Contest" held at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago. In 2004 Palmisano did a two week stint in Italy working as a guest chef at "Ristorante Lo Zodiaco" on the island of Capri. Palmisano has been written up by numerous national media and has appeared on national television. Top Chef 3

Chef Robert Barral is a frequent guest on WCAX's morning show; he is the owner and executive chef of Café Provence in Brandon and an instructor at the New England Culinary Institute. Barral has worked in some of the finest kitchens in France, Switzerland and North America including the Ritz Carleton Hotel in Chicago, the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston and was the Executive Chef for Celebrity Cruise Lines. Before opening Café Provence, Barral was the Executive in charge of food operations for the Inn at Essex and NECI Commons in Burlington.

JJ Vezina has been the Executive Chef of the Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Pub Deck in South Burlington since 2006. He has over 16 years experience in the culinary arts. A Vermont native who began learning his craft in some local icons including Water Works and Leunig's Bistro. Vezina was the Executive Chef at Palmer's Restaurant in San Marcos, Texas and Executive Chef at Kahiki Moon in Burlington. He was nominated for Chef of the Year in 2004 by TRA. Top Chef 3

Sean Buchanan of Vermont Public Television's "Feast in the Making" and Executive Chef of the Stowe Mountain Lodge will emcee along with Charlie Papillo of WVMT. The panel of judges who will critique the chef's performance include Jozef Harrewyn, Executive Chef and Owner of Chef's Corner in Williston, Melissa Pasanen, food critic for the Burlington Free Press, Suzanne Podhaizer, food critic for Seven Days, and Annie Harlow, a local farm based food consultant.

Watch the chefs go head to head in this gourmet cook-off. A selection of tasty appetizers from some of the area's top chefs will be served along with a complimentary wine, beer & draft cider tasting and a silent auction geared to the foodie in all of us.

Click here to see a list of Silent Auction items
Click here to see a list of the Appetizers that will be served

Tickets are $35 and are available online at www.cvaa.org or call 1-800-642-5119. Win a chance to be served a tasting plate by the winning chef after the competition in a private dining, raffle tickets are $5 for this one of a kind opportunity.

The Top Chef of the Champlain Valley benefits the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging's Meals on Wheels and Case Management programs to help seniors age with independence and dignity.

For more information download this flyer
For information about sponsorship packages or to donate to the silent auction call 865-0360.

Silver Sponsors
Peoples Trust Company
PACE
Pizzagalli
Sovernet
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Franklin County Health & Rehab
Holiday House
Price Chopper

Bronze Sponsors
Grippin, Donlon, Roche
Starr Farm Nursing Center
Home Instead Senior Care
Pawprints
Aaron J. Goldberg, Attorney at Law
Fleischer Jacobs Group
Home Care Assistance