2013 Cast Iron Skillet Cook-Off: The Competition

Imagine a high amount of nervous energy, a mix of skill levels and an amazing collection of food mostly from local sources and you might begin to come close to what the ballroom at the Greenbrier experienced Saturday, February 2. The Cast Iron Skillet Cook-Off attracts top chefs from West Virginia and this year a few from nearby states in Appalachia. It is a wonderful celebration of the way Appalachian Cuisine has evolved to reflect modern interpretations of the heritage of the cooking that was processed historically in these mountains.

Eight teams competed in Cast Iron Competition.  They included The Bank (Pearrisburg, Virginia), Diogi’s (Fayetteville), the Greenbrier Golf Classic (White Sulphur Springs), Laurel Vista Farms (Somerset, Pennsylvania), Panorama at the Peak (Berkeley Springs), Pierpoint Culinary Academy (Fairmont), WV Generations (Rumsey), and WVU Alumni (Morgantown). Each team consisted of the chef and a sous-chef, seven people with various levels of experience, and one high school Pro-Start student.

Three teams competed in the Throwdown. These were the top three winning teams from the 2012 Competition and included  Bridgeport Conference Center at Charles Point  (Bridgeport), Mountwest Culinary School  (Huntington) and WVU Small Farm Center (Morgantown). Each team consisted of the chef and a sous-chef, seven people with various levels of experience, and one high school Pro-Start student.

This year a new class of competition was included for the first time. As the reputation of the Cast Iron Skillet Cook-Off has risen, interest from outside West Virginia has increased. Three teams of chefs competed in the Superbowl. Representing West Virginia were the three chefs from last year’s Throwdown accompanied each by an advanced culinary student.  Teams from Asheville, North Carolina and the Tri-Cities region of southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee also competed.

Award Winners

Cast Iron Cook-Off Competition

Best Use of Cast Iron:
TIE:   The Bank Food and Drink  & Panorama at the Peak

Best Teamwork:
Diogis
Laurel Vista Farm (HM)

Whistle while you work:
Panorama at the Peak
WVU Alumni (HM)

Table Presentation:
Diogis
TIE:  The Bank Food and Drink  &  Panorama at the Peak (HM)

Best Use of Appalachian Produce
Laurel Vista Farm
West Virginia Next Generation (HM)

Best Use of Protein
WVU Next Generation
Tie:  Greenbrier Golf Classic and The Bank Food and Drink (HM)

Best Use of Value Added:
WVU Ericson
Greenbrier Golf Classic

Overall Champion
Pierpont Culinary

Best Single Course
Greenbrier Golf Classic

Best Menu
Pierpont Culinary

People’s Choice Award
The Bank Food and Drink

The Throwdown

Winner:  Mountwest

Culinary Superbowl

Winner:  Asheville, NC