Chef Mel Melton wins FIRST PLACE in the Best Dish in North Carolina Casual Dining Category!

The 3 award winners:

Skillet Fried Oysters with Garlic Hot Sauce

Grilled Catfish with Crawfish Etouffee

Buttermilk Pie with Blackberry Sauce & Chantilly Cream

The Best Dish in North Carolina restaurant competition is the official restaurant contest of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and its Goodness Grows in North Carolina marketing program. The statewide competition, open to all restaurants in North Carolina, determines which restaurants serve the best fare North Carolina has to offer.

Restaurants compete in two categories; Fine Dining and Casual Dining. The competition was created to recognize and reward the efforts of restaurants and chefs who use North Carolina products regularly in their menus and to increase public awareness of the quality of food, restaurants, and chefs here in North Carolina.

The award ceremony took place during the NC State Fair on Monday October 20, 2008 and was presented to Mel by Chef Bobby Flay.

Pictured above: Chef Bobby Flay, Chef Mel Melton and NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.