<p>Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. has revealed its “Find Your Inner Chef” National Cook Off winner. Kara Adanalian from Fresno, California, took home the title and the grand prize retreat for two to the Napa Valley Culinary Institute.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/delmonte061713body5.jpg" alt="WEEKEND IMAGES YAY" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“To be the grand prize winner of the Del Monte Fresh Produce "Find Your Inner Chef" contest is not only a thrill but an honor, given the level of competition, judging and event facility,” said Kara Adanalian, from Fresno, California and Del Monte Fresh “Find Your Inner Chef” title winner. “I'm at a loss for words to describe how happy I am, but there's a smile on my face that won't go away. Thank you Del Monte for providing such a great product and top-notch event! I'm very proud.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/delmonte061713body1.jpg" alt="WEEKEND IMAGES YAY" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Kara’s winning recipe, Red Pepper and Avocado Stuffed Chicken Breast with a pastry gremolata and white wine reduction, took the competition to the next level. The national cook off was held on the campus of The Miami Dade College Hospitality School – Miami Culinary Institute where the competitive cook off featured four finalists who competed in a face-off / bracket challenge type setting, according to press release. Each chef prepared a dish from their social media-winning recipe, with an hour to complete their creation. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The online contest, which launched April 15 and culminated with the national cook off.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/delmonte061713body4.jpg" alt="WEEKEND IMAGES YAY" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“Congratulations to our Grand Prize winner, Kara! The cook off event was as exciting to witness as it was to judge the entire span of the contest from launch to today’s cooking competition,” said Dennis Christou, VP of Marketing, North America for Del Monte. “We’re amazed at each finalist’s culinary skills and at their creativity in using specific ingredients such as our Del Monte® fresh fruits and vegetables during this intense competition.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Judges based their final decision on creativity of the dish, taste, use of Del Monte® fresh fruits or vegetables in the recipe, and presentation. Judges for the event included Chef John Richards, CEC, CCA, CWPC, MBA, Miami Culinary Institute Director; Jim Prevor, Founder, Perishable Pundit and Lou Sena, President of SenaReider. In addition, President and CEO for Produce for Better Health Foundation’s Elizabeth Pivonka, and Libby Platus, Food and Travel Writer, also participated as judges. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.fruits.com/fruits/products.asp?nID=1&products=whole-produce" target="_new"> Del Monte Fresh</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
