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PA Preferred™ Culinary Connection Stage


The PA Preferred® Culinary Connection is eight days of Pennsylvania food, featuring samples, displays and cooking demonstrations by your favorite local chefs, media personalities and special guests. Each day has a different theme, filling your plate with great ideas for enjoying the bounty of specialty crops and delicious food produced in Pennsylvania.

The PA Preferred® Culinary Connection Stage is the place to be for foodies, cooking show fanatics, aspiring chefs and anyone who loves to eat! Throughout the Farm Show, the stage features crowd-pleasing cooking competitions and demos of everything from familiar favorites to more adventurous I-have-no-idea-how-to-pronounce-this-but-my-tongue-is-in-heaven gourmet feasts. Cuisine inspired by Asian fusion to classical French, and brew-pub fare to Caribbean flair, will challenge you to imagine your own opportunities to become an inspirational chef in your own right.

PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s brand for products grown and processed locally. When you see the PA Preferred checkmark, you can be confident that buying that product directly benefits our economy and Pennsylvania farmers.

Saturday, January 6 - Beef and Veal Day

10:00 AMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association
11:00 AMChef Instructor Mike Ditchfield and Students from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA: Sautéed Sweetbreads and Hungarian Veal Goulash 
12:00 PMRob Wood, Executive Chef, Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen, Community Restaurant: Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Portobello Mushroom Caps
1:00 PMThermador Chefs Challenge - "Iron Chef" Style Cook-Off with local Chefs and Media personalities 
2:00 PMJohn Moeller, Owner, Greenfield Restaurant & Bar and Author of "Dining at the White House—From the President’s Table to Yours": Sauteed Veal Medallion with Stoll & Wolfe PA Rye Whiskey Mushroom Cream Sauce 
3:00 PMJosh Short, Corporate Executive Chef, Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar, PA: Braised Beef Short Ribs
4:00 PMBen Horning, Executive Chef and David Graham, Director of Marketing, Tröegs Brewing Company, Hershey, PA: Beef Bacon with Garlic Hummus 
5:00 PMChef Reuben Asaram , Owner of Pop Up with Chef Reuben, Philadelphia, PA: Reuby Con Carne
6:00 PMMaple Production Demonstration by the PA Maple Syrup Producers

Sunday, January 7 - Vegetable Day

11:00 AMMaple Production Demonstration by the PA Maple Syrup Producers
12:00 PMWalter David Figueroa, Executive Chef, Englewood Brewing Company, Hershey, PA: Tri Color Roasted Beets Salad with Crispy Goat Cheese 
1:00 PMChris Scott, Finalist on Season 15 of Bravo’s Top Chef, Author of Homage, Competitor on OWN’s The Great Soul Food Cook Off and Judge on Beat Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay’s Triple Thread and more on the Food Network: Black Eyed Pea Scrapple and Carrot Risotto
2:00 PMAlisha Howell Summa, Owner, Lynn Sandy’s Bakery, Scranton, PA: Focaccia
3:00 PMChris Scott, Finalist on Season 15 of Bravo’s Top Chef, Author of Homage, Competitor on OWN’s The Great Soul Food Cook Off and Judge on Beat Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay’s Triple Thread and more on the Food Network: Caraway and Rye Dumplings, Blackened Oyster Mushrooms and Boiled Peanut Potlikker
4:00 PMChef Instructor Mike Dinan and Students from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA: Vegetarian Chili with Roasted Poblano Cornbread
5:00 PMSchool Cooking Challenge with Students from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
6:00 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association

Monday, January 8 - The GIANT Company Day

10:00 AMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association
11:00 AMJoni Rampolla, MBA, RDN, LDN and Shanna Shultz, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitians, The GIANT Company: Sweet Potato Pancakes with Pumpkin-Cranberry Granola
12:00 PMBarry Crumlich, Executive Chef, the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence and The First Lady of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Lori Shapiro, Harrisburg, PA: Butternut Cheese Pie with Everything Kale Salad
1:00 PMThe GIANT Battle of the PA Sports Teams: Keith Rudolf, Team Chef, The Philadelphia Phillies and Will Shaw, Chef de Cuisine, Stacks at the Hershey Lodge, home of the Hershey Bears
2:00 PMJena Wood, MS, RD, LDN and Crystal Joiner, MS, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitians, The GIANT Company: Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Strips with Butternut Squash and Carrot Fries
3:00 PMShanna Shultz, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian, The GIANT Company: Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies & Cherry Moon Milk
4:00 PMJena Wood, MS, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian, The GIANT Company: Mushroom Soup with Pesto
5:00 PMChef Instructor Mike Dinan and Students from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA: Korean Sticky Chicken with Cabbage Stir Fry
6:00 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association


Tuesday, January 9 - Potato Day

11:00 AMMaple Production Demonstration by the PA Maple Syrup Producers
12:00 PMBen Billingham, Sous Chef, The Mill in Hershey, Hershey, PA: Loaded Baked Potato Casserole and Roasted Fingerlings 
1:00 PMJennifer Zavala, Chef-Owner, Juana Tamale, Philadelphia, Contestant on Bravo TV's Top Chef, Co-Host of the 86ers podcast: Potato and Chorizo Tacos 
2:00 PMMatt Berger and Rob Strickler, Chefs, C&J Catering at the Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA: Mrs. P’s Pierogies and Potato Pave 
3:00 PMAaron Fowler, Executive Sous Chef, Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City, Philadelphia, PA: Potato & Bean Soup
4:00 PMChef Instructor Claire Dacko and Students from Dauphin County Technical School, Harrisburg, PA: Potato Boxty with Smoked Trout Salad 
5:00 PMSchool Cooking Challenge with Students from the Dauphin County Technical School, Harrisburg, PA
6:00 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association


Wednesday, January 10 - Mushroom Day

11:00 AMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association
12:00 PMChrista Barfield, Owner, Viva Leaf Tea & FarmerJawn Greenhouse, Philadelphia, PA: Lion’s Mane Mushroom “Steaks” and Purple Potatoes 
1:00 PMThe Best Blended Burger Kids Showdown
2:00 PMDavid Santucci and Heather Santucci, Giorgio Fresh, Avondale PA: Creamy Mushroom Spaghetti Squash 
3:00 PMJay Varga, Executive Chef, The JDK Group Catering & Events: Marsala Mushrooms 
4:00 PMKevin Tucker, Chef, Mountain Laurel Catering, Harrisburg, PA and William Pedilla Brown,  Mushroom Grower, Mycosymbiotics, New Cumburland, PA: Vegetarian Mushroom Soup
5:00 PMChef Instructor Autumn Patti and Students from HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, Harrisburg, PA: Portabella Lasagna
6:00 PMMaple Production Demonstration by the PA Maple Syrup Producers


Thursday, January 11 - Military Appreciation Day featuring Homegrown by Heroes

11:00 AMMaple Production Demonstration by the PA Maple Syrup Producers
12:00 PMTSgs Tyler Russo, United States Air Force: Pan Seared Lamb Chops 
1:00 PMArmy vs. Navy Cook-Off 
2:00 PMFelicia Juarez, CS1, United States Coast Guard: Green Pozole 
3:00 PMSarah Server, CS1, United States Navy: Stewed Rabbit Loin with Spiced Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and Glazed Carrots
4:00 PMMaster Sergeant Shanna Berkheimer and Master Sargent Jacob Ferger, Pennsylvania Air National Guard: Chicken Bruschetta with Pasta and Challah French Toast with Bacon 
5:00 PMSchool Cooking Challenge with Students from HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, Harrisburg, PA
6:00 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association


Friday, January 12 - Pork Day

11:00 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration by the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association
12:00 PMBryan Sanders, Chef-Owner, Mellie Bellies Southern Barbecue, Harrisburg, PA: Sticky BBQ Ribs with Candied Sweet Potato Puree, Spicy Country Collards and Bacon Nuggets
1:00 PMThe Best Pork Belly Competition 
2:00 PMCromwell Palicte, Corporate Chef, The Restaurant Store, Camp Hill: Soy Sauce-Braised Boneless Pork Butt with Shiitake Mushrooms
3:00 PMBen Beaver, Executive Chef, Ever Grain Brewing Co., Camp Hill, PA: Mustard BBQ Glazed Pork Loin, Smoked Grits, and Apple Salad 
4:00 PMChef Instructor Bobby Miller and Students from Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center, Mechanicsburg, PA: PA Dutch Ham Pot Pie 
5:00 PMSchool Cooking Challenge with Students from Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center, Mechanicsburg, PA
6:00 PMMaple Production Demonstration by the PA Maple Syrup Producers


Saturday, January 13 - Dairy Day

10:00 AMKaiden (Kai) Reynolds, Special Events and Catering Chef, Philabundance, Philadelphia, PA: Roasted Cauliflower and Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese 
11:00 AMAmy Hyers, Sous Chef,  Di Bruno Brothers Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia: Roasted Beets with Whipped Rosemary Goat Cheese 
12:00 PMScott Calhoun, Chef-Owner, Ember & Ash, Philadelphia and Ben Wenk, Owner, Ploughman Cider & Three Springs Fruit Farm, Adam's County: Bubble and Squeak 
1:00 PMUndeniably Dairy Milkshake Contest presented by the American Dairy Association North East
2:00 PMSue Miller, Owner, Birchrun Hills Farm, Chester Springs: The Perfect PA Charcuterie Board
3:00 PMAmber Denmon, MS, RDN, LDN, and April Miller, MA, RDN, Penn State Extension Educators: Cinnamon Pancakes with Whipped Ricotta and Warm Berry Sauce
4:00 PMHayley and Stephanie Painter, Co-Owners and Co-CEOs, Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt, Westfield, PA: Cranberry Orange and White Chocolate Muffins