Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010 11:32 pm

Celebrity judges, including from left Jeanne Bragg, Steve Haslip and Joe Huffines, try Puleo;s Grille's entry in the Pork Producers' contest.

The 2010 Tennessee Pork Producers Association Taste of Elegance presented its first place award to Chef Joe DeGuira, Loew's Vanderbilt Hotel, Tuesday night at DoubleTree Hotel in Murfreesboro.

Second place went to to Rick Kahre, J & M Catering, and third place to Chef Forrest Parker, Cascades Gaylord Opryland.

Chef Laurie Potts of the Wildhorse Saloon captured the TN Products Award - for the best use of Tennessee grown/manufactured products.

"Her sorghum molasses pork chops were out of this world," stated Steve Hayslip, one of the judges who is the morning anchor for News Channel 5 in Nashville.

Chef Joe DeGuira will go on to compete in the national compeition. He received $1000 for his win. Chef Forrest Parker, the 2010 3rd place winner won the state competition in 2008 and placed 3rd nationally.

Locally, Chef Mark Shelton of Puleo's Grille in Murfreesboro and Chef Dylan Mackin of 5 Senses in Murfreesboro competed as well.

According to Steve Hayslip, "This year's presentations were the best in the past 3 years I've judged the competition; all of the chefs were top notch."

The contest is presented by the Tennessee Pork Producers Association to encourage restaurants to add more pork items to their menus.

"Hopefully, our invited guests at the Taste of Elegance reception can see pork used in many different main dish entrees and consider choosing pork when ordering at a restaurant.", Phyllis Ferguson, Executive Vice President of the TN Pork Producers Assn. commented.

"Chefs enjoy using pork as it is so versatile and today's pork is so much leaner than it was 10 years ago - 30 percent leaner," she added.
Cargill was a sponsor of the TOE activity.

Following Tuesday's activity, the State 4-H Market Hog Show took place at the Tennessee Livestock Center, MTSU, Wednesday where 412 hogs were exhibited by 220 4-H'ers from 32 counties across the state.

The Grand Champion Market Hog was selected. Ethan Rowlett from Weakley Co. exhibited the Champion. Kayla Kimes of Clay Co. exhibited the Reserve Champion, and she also exhibited the Reserve Champion Pen of 3, where three hogs are shown at one time.

The Grand Champion Pen of 3 was exhibited by Clay Prater of Warren Co. who also had the winning poster, "Celebrating 25 Years of the Pork Checkoff".