Charlotte cooking in competition

Chef stuff: CPCC culinary instructor Geoff Blount finished runner-up in the Pastry Chef of the Year competition at the recent Southeast Regional American Culinary Federation competitions at the Southeast Regional Conference. Students John Latour, Amanda White, Lisa Borkowski and Amanda Hamilton won medals in baking and pastry arts competition, and Russ Thayer was awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

Restaurant stuff: Nineteen restaurants compete this summer for the title of “Best Dish in North Carolina” in a contest sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Gallery at the Ballantyne Resort is the only Charlotte restaurant on the list, vying for recognition among nine fine dining competitors, while 10 will compete in the casual category. The contest recognizes restaurants that use and promote N.C. food products, and finalists were chosen based on their proposed menus and marketing plans. They are required to offer the proposed dish or combination of dishes for at least a four-week period in May, June or July. Gallery chef J. Kelly Morrow will offer an Underwood Family Farm lamb quartet. Judges will visit each restaurant and declare first-, second- and third-place winners, which will be announced in August. Info: here.