010326 Sacramento National Chicken Cooking Contest

Modesto, CA - Sacramento will be the site of the 44th National Chicken Cooking Contest on April 6, 2001, where fifty-one of America's top chicken cooks will compete for a $25,000 grand prize. The contestants represent each state and the District of Columbia. This is the first time in the history of the NCCC that California has been host of the event and Barbara Morgan, the California contestant, is ready to battle it out for the grand prize money.

“What better place to hold a cooking contest,” states Bill Mattos, President of the California Poultry Federation. “California is where food trends begin with the state's abundance of fresh poultry, fruits and vegetables.”

Barbara Morgan, 75, of Concord, California, beat out all other California entries in the national contest with her Creamy Polenta Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Cranberry Apricot Relish recipe. Fresh California chicken takes center stage in this simple, yet elegant, dish. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are stuffed with asiago cheese and chili polenta, baked until tender and then served with a savory cranberry apricot relish. “I prefer to use only fresh California chicken when testing a recipe for competition. It always comes out of the oven cooked uniformly and meets my expectations,” said Morgan. In over 20 years, Ms. Morgan has entered more than 600 cooking contests and placed in at least 150. She is looking forward to the 151st.

The NCCC is sponsored by the National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. Members of the California Poultry Federation are local hosts for the Cook-Off. John Bartelme of Foster Farms and Lillian Zacky of Zacky Farms are Contest Co-Chairpersons.

The Cookoff will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center, 13th and J Streets, Sacramento, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Friday, April 6. The Contest officially begins with the Parade of States at 8:30 a.m., at which the fifty-one contestants are welcomed to California. The Contest is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

In addition to watching contestants prepare their chicken dishes, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the winner of the Japan National Chicken Cooking Contest, who will make the chicken dish that won first prize in her country.

GE Appliances will be on hand to demonstrate their new Artica Refrigerator, which has special compartments to thaw frozen foods.

Judges for the Contest are fifteen of the country's top food editors and writers. Heather McPherson of the Orlando Sentinel will serve as Chairman of the Judges.

In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, four runner-up prizes will also be awarded. Second place is $5,000; third prize is $3,000; fourth prize is $2,000 and fifth prize is $1,000.

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