by Madison V. Fisler
March 12, 2014. The results of last night’s Fire on the Rock Competition Dining Series battle means that our very own Chef Sam Ratchford of Vidalia in Boone will face Chef Michelle Bailey of Season’s at High Lake for the competition’s semifinal battle on March 24.
Bailey bested her opponent, Chef Michael Mahoney of ISIS Restaurant by almost five full points last night 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.
Fire on the rock will continue to heat up, as another High Country hopeful will compete at Fire on the Rock on March 17.
Edwin Bloodworth of Gamekeeper in Boone will face off against Sam Etheridge of Ambrozia Bar + Bistro in Asheville.
Etheridge describes his cooking style as “new American, farm-to-table” cuisine, while Bloodworth focuses his cooking on “modern, emotional, progressive-Appalachia” food.