Pear Bureau's Pro Chef Recognition Program

Hi all - Pear Bureau is seeking out the top professional chefs around the country. Submit your original pear recipe and you may be featured on PearPanache.com and in national publicity campaign.

PEAR BUREAU NORTHWEST STARTS NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR CHEFS WITH THE MOST ‘PEAR PANACHE’
Chefs Invited to Submit Original Pear Recipes for Recognition

PORTLAND, Ore. – May 3, 2007 – With a fruitful first season of Pear Panache under its belt, Pear Bureau Northwest (PBNW) is now planting the seed for a second season of the popular chef recognition program that honors the pear and the culinary professionals who masterfully serve them. In the program’s inaugural year, the pear association targeted five markets; this year, the Bureau is expanding its search to a nationwide pool of top chefs.

From September 2007 through March 2008, PBNW will select a new chef each month to feature on its Pear Panache website, www.PearPanache.com. Selected chefs and their original pear recipes will also receive local and national publicity in a variety of media opportunities.

In 2006, Pear Panache chefs were featured in such media outlets as The Seattle Times, Horizon Air magazine, Chicago’s Hungry Hound (WSL-TV) and Portland’s Good Day Oregon (KPTV-TV).

Pear Panache Expands to Include Fresh Pear Drinks
To be considered for Pear Panache recognition, professional chefs can download the official entry form at www.PearPanache.com, and submit it along with their original pear recipe. In addition to the categories of Appetizer, Salad, Entrée and Dessert, PBNW is now also accepting original Pear Drink recipes (alcoholic or nonalcoholic). Recipes will be reviewed to ensure their usability for everyday home chefs, and graded on taste, demonstration of pears’ versatility, originality, use of other seasonal ingredients, visual appeal and simplicity.) Entry deadline is July 2, 2007.

“We want to applaud the chefs with the most ‘Pear Panache’ – those who are discovering new ways to celebrate the great flavor and versatility of pears,” said Kevin Moffitt, president/CEO, Pear Bureau Northwest. “Chefs are an influential force in the food community. Their creative use of pears can inspire home chefs to think of this tasty, nutritious fruit in exciting new ways.”

About Pear Bureau Northwest
Pear Bureau Northwest is a non-profit marketing organization established in 1931 to promote the fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon. Together, these two states represent nearly 1,700 growers and 84 percent of the nation’s fresh pear production. The Bureau also develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information, visit www.usapears.org.

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