Emma celebrates her success
Drexel University senior culinary arts major Emma Louth won the “Fan Favorite” Award in the 2011 San Pellegrino® Almost Famous Chef® Competition in Napa Valley, Calif. March 13. An online audience logged on to cast votes for Emma on the competition’s website, and brought her to victory against nine other competitors from the U.S. and Canada. Accompanying the award was a $3,000 prize.
Louth prepared the dish that made her regional competition champion, “Smoke+Ocean+Prairie,” a twist on the classic surf 'n turf. The dish featured rare bison tenderloin nestled atop a fig balsamic reduction, artistically topped with smoked and deep fried oysters. The entrée was complemented by a crispy potato Napoleon and arugula pine nut salad.
The weekend competition was broadcast live on the competition’s official website, and the public was invited to log in and vote for the “Fan Favorite.” Emma won with a combination of online votes and those cast by guests who attended the event.
The San Francisco Examiner proclaimed, “The ‘Fan Favorite’ winner is Emma Louth, whose amiable smile and sense of humor won the hearts of online viewers. She was the only contestant to use seafood.”