August 13, 2019 – West Des Moines, IA –Fried food wasn’t the only foodie favorite at the 2019 Iowa State Fair.  On Monday, fair-goers sampled original soft silken tofu-based salad dressing creations from four professional chefs including this year’s champion Kerri Rush from Fresh Café & Market. The competition, which was hosted by The Soyfoods Council and the Iowa Restaurant Association, took place in the Agriculture Building where crowds watched each chef make and discuss their dressings in front of a panel of professional judges. Top Chefs Wow the Crowd The competing chefs were challenged to make salad dressing recipes which used Mori-nu Soft Silken Tofu as the base of the dressing, were consumer friendly, gluten-free and delicious enough to put on a restaurant menu. Each chef demonstrated the process of making the dressing and then served four judges as well as a crowd of fair-goers. Kerri Rush Wins Champion:Chef Rush took home the gold with sweet garlic wasabi dressing over a mixed local greens salad. Other competing chefs included: 2^ndPlace:Chef Hannah Elliott, Lola’s Fine Kitchen, Ankeny – Lola’s Marsala Ranch Dressing 3^rdPlace:Chef Brad Rodish, Beef Cake Fuel, West Des Moines -Berry Smooth Dressing 4^thPlace:Chef David Jensen, Hy-Vee, Urbandale – Southwest Silken Tofu Dressing All participants received cash prizes. (photos available upon request) Contest judges included Soybean farmer, Morey Hill, Food blogger Cristin Clark, Food & Swine, Joe McConville, Gusto Pizza in Des Moines and Chef John Andres, Iowa Culinary Institute.  All of the chefs’ recipes are available online at both the Iowa Restaurant Association and The Soyfoods Council websites: www.restaurantiowa.com and www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. Link to recipe’s: https://restaurantiowa.com/soy-salad-dressing-professional-chef-recipes/  

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The Soyfoods Council The Soyfoods Council is an affiliate of the Iowa Soybean Association. The mission of The Soyfoods Council is to serve as a catalyst, leader and facilitator to mainstream soy-based foods into the global marketplace-America and beyond. www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. www.restraurantiowa.com Media Contact: Josephine Jensen Public Relations Specialist Iowa Restaurant Association jjensen@restaurantiowa.com 319-464-0766