On February 24, the nation’s most talented chefs competed for a ‘good cause’ at the fifth annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash® hosted by Rachael Ray. In addition to the battle to create the best burger, their love for spuds was tested during the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) Side Dish Challenge. The IPC enlisted the participants to show off their culinary excellence by preparing an exceptional Idaho® potato side dish. The Grand Prize was a $5,000 donation to Florida International University made by the IPC on behalf of Chef Carlos Barillas, Corporate Chef of Burger & Beer Joint in Miami Beach. Chef Jose Garces, Chef/Proprietor of Village Whiskey in Philadelphia snagged the Over the Top! side dish prize and a second donation of $1,500 was also awarded to the university.
Lee Schrager and Rachael Ray congratulate Chef Carlos Barillas (center),
along with Frank Muir and Mr. Food for his Grand Prize winning Truffle Baked Idaho® Potato Salad.
The judging team included Frank Muir, IPC President & CEO; Don Odiorne, IPC Vice President, Foodservice and the syndicated TV personality Art Ginsburg, aka “Mr. Food." Chef Barillas earned the title of Grand Prize Winner for his Truffle Baked Idaho® Potato Salad. Chef Garces’ Over the Top! Yellow Finn Poutine was also a prize-winning hit. 

For recipes, tips and additional information about Idaho® potatoes, visit http://foodservice.idahopotato.com/