Who has the best pork chop in D.C.? The Virginia Pork Council with support from the Iowa Pork Producers Association, North Carolina Pork Council, and the National Restaurant Association wants to find out with the launch of the inaugural #100kPorkChop competition.
Open to restaurants in the Capital Beltway, the competition aims to identify the best pork chop in the Washington, D.C. area, with the winner receiving a $100,000 cash prize. In addition, pork producers will donate $100,000 worth of pork products to local food banks.
“With generous support from pork producers across the country, we are excited to host this competition that will support local restaurants and food banks in need,” says Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the Virginia Pork Council. “Pork is one of the most versatile and affordable meats on the market, and we hope to showcase that through this fun, albeit highly competitive challenge.”
Registration opened June 3 and runs through June 17. The #100kporkchop challenge will have two phases and will begin on June 19. The public will have from June 19 to July 3 to visit participating restaurants and vote in the People’s Pork Chop Awards for their favorite chop. A complete list of competitors will be listed on www.100kporkchopchallenge.com on June 19. A minimum of three and a maximum of five (in case of ties) vote getters will move on as finalists and compete in front of a panel of culinary professionals and pork producers from Virginia, Iowa, and North Carolina in the D.C. area from July 11-12.
The winner of the #100kporkchop challenge will be announced on July 23 during the food bank donation presentation.
“As pork producers from one of the largest producing states in the country, we take pride in what we do and the products we raise,” says Trish Cook, past president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “We follow tight biosecurity measures and implement sustainable farming practices to ensure our products are not only safe and healthy to eat but good for the environment – and delicious too. We are excited to work with some of the country’s finest chefs to showcase what we all do.”
