by Madison V. Fisler
March 20, 2014. In just a few days, the competitors for the final round of the Fire on the Rock series will be determined. On March 24, Chef Samuel Ratchford of Vidalia in Boone will face Chef Michelle Bailey of Season’s at Highland Lake in Flat Rock in the semifinal round of Fire on the Rock.
Bailey bested her opponent, Chef Michael Mahoney of ISIS Restaurant by almost five full points during her last battle at the Biltmore, creating dishes with the mystery ingredients Two Shoes Farms Oyster Mushrooms and The Brothers Vilgalys Krupnikas.
Bailey’s final score, including the average score from the diners and from the professional judges, was 28.12, beating out Mahoney’s score of 23.06.
Chef Samuel Ratchford of Vidalia in Boone came out on top over Anthony Cerrato of Strada Italiano in Asheville last night in the first bout of competition in the Fire on the Rock competition series. Ratchford won both the popular vote and the professional vote and came out on top with a total average score of 29.16, beating Cerrato’s score of 21.17 by almost 8 full points.
With two great competitors, this round of competition should be fierce.
The winner of the March 24 competition will be heading into the finals, and will face the winner of the March 25 competition between Sam Etheridge of Ambrozia Bar and Bistro in Asheville and Steven Goff of King James Public House in Asheville.
The final competition will take place on March 31.