Vergennes, VT- Mark LaRiviere, the new head chef of the Bobcat Café & Brewery in Bristol, took the title of the Top Chef of Addison County at the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging’s benefit to support Meals on Wheels and Case Management. Three top local chefs went head to head at the 1st Annual Top Chef Competition of Addison County, an Iron Chef Experience at the Basin Harbor Club. Mark LaRiviere, John Satko, CEC, of the Basin Harbor Club, and Carrie Mooney of the Swift House Inn put their skills to the test creating an appetizer and entrée in 45 minutes for the judges. Each course contained secret ingredients announced at the start of the competition.
According to Rod Rehwinkel, a judge at the Top Chef competition, the decision was a difficult one. Rehwinkel commented that “ All of the chef’s demonstrated a very high level of skill and the decision making process was difficult. Each chef had presented very creative and original dishes and in most cases the dishes were very flavorful. Therefore the decision came down to which chef used the mystery ingredient the best and Mark’s dipping sauce and salsa/compote truly was above the other competitors in all judging categories.”
LaRiviere became a chef having been raised in a family that knew how to produce good food. LaRiviere is a graduate of the Culinary Program at the Center of Technology, Essex. For him he was attracted to the hands on learning at CTE. LaRiviere said on being named Top Chef that he “was flattered, there was a lot of great competition.”
Sean Buchanan of Vermont Public Television’s “Feast in the Making” hosted the event. Judges included Jessie Price of “Eating Well Magazine”, Rod Rehwinkel Executive Chef of Sodexho and the University of Vermont’s Davis Center, and Annie Harlow of Black River Produce. Miss Vermont, Rachel Ann Cole, presented the trophy to LaRiviere.
Farrell Distributing Corporation conducted a tasting of wines and local beers to demonstrate what types of drinks could be paired with the chef’s creations. Music was provided by Aaron Flinn’s salad days.
The Top Chef of Addison County would not of been possible without the generous support of sponsors: The Lodge at Otter Creek, Keybank, The Arbors at Shelburne, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Vermont Business Magazine, Farrell Distributing Corporation, and Black River Produce, which donated all of the food for the Top Chef competition. The Top Chef raised nearly $7,000 bringing the March for Meals Campaign to over $40,000 to provide 8,000 Meals on Wheels.
Last year over 178,000 Meals on Wheels were delivered in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties. Over 2,500 clients are seen by CVAA Case Managers each year to help them access the services and benefits they are entitled to including fuel assistance, food stamps, Choices for Care, and Medicare Part d.
The Champlain Valley Agency on Aging is a private non-profit United Way organization dedicated to helping people age with independence and dignity. CVAA serves as a clearinghouse of information on elder care services, provides case management to seniors most at risk, offers successful aging programs, and provides opportunities for nutritious meals and social interaction through community meals and Meals on Wheels for people age 60 and older in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties.
Thanks to Our Sponsors:
Keybank, The Arbors at Shelburne, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Vermont Business Magazine, Farrell Distributing Corporation and Black River Produce
