MONTEREY, CA - Although the fifth annual Chef Invitational has concluded, the impact of the event can still be felt by those who attended. The foodservice-centric event is a labor of love produced by California Giant Berry Farms, as the company works diligently to highlight the versatility of the category. To commemorate this, California Giant released a video recap to take the industry inside the magic.
“We’re excited to share the video recap of the 2023 Chef Invitational. The event has grown exponentially over the last five years, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. This year was undoubtedly the best—with a new educational component, Culinary Compassion™, a methodology that centers culinary innovation around the variety of human-based emotions and how we can care for our consumers in a meaningful way through the dishes these chefs create,” Tom Smith, California Giant’s Director of Sales, shared with me.
Field tours further connected the chefs with the products they use, and the workshop with Chef Rosalyn Darling connected their emotions to the food they produce.
The event itself culminated in the naming of Top Chef at the competition, a title handed to Steven Halliday, Culinary Specialist at Gordon Food Service.
“I’m thrilled to win the title of California Giant Top Chef,” Steven said of his win. “I’m grateful to Gordon Food Service, Markon, and my family for their ample support and allowing this opportunity. Participating in the California Giant Chef Invitational has been a transformational experience. California Giant’s commitment to quality and premium berries to foodservice providers is a labor of love that I have the utmost appreciation for.”
Please watch the video above to hear more from the chefs who participated and more! To learn even more about the event, check out our recap as well.
A hearty congratulation once again to the California Giant team, to Steven Halliday for his Top Chef title, and David McGurn as the People’s Choice winner!
