Best Dish in NC Contest Background

The Best Dish in NC restaurant contest was inaugurated in 2006 to bring awareness to the numerous restaurants and chefs who feature local cuisine on their menus.  This annual statewide competition, open to any restaurant or restaurant group doing business in North Carolina, is the official restaurant contest of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and its Goodness Grows in North Carolina marketing program.  It is our goal each year to determine who serves the best food in the state using ingredients that are grown or produced in North Carolina. 

Many restaurants purchase meats, seafood, produce, cheeses, wines, sauces, breaders, mixes, beverages, and other great products from local purveyors.  They know that using the freshest ingredient available will help them provide the best meal possible for their customers.  Customers have the opportunity to taste the difference local products bring to the table.  These restaurants also understand what the importance of buying North Carolina products means to the state’s economy and environment. 

The Best Dish in NC contest was created to recognize and reward these restaurants while giving them something fun and exciting to be involved.  It encourages restaurants across the state to be creative when adding their own flavor to local cuisine.  The purpose of this contest is to increase public awareness of the high quality of food, restaurants and chefs in North Carolina.  We encourage everyone to support state food producers, growers, and restaurants by visiting each restaurant involved and experiencing the best local recipes in the Carolinas for themselves. 

The contest has evolved since its inception in 2006.  The first year featured two categories for restaurants to compete; chain restaurants and independent restaurants.  In order to level the playing field, the contest split into three categories the following year dividing the independent category into casual dining and fine dining.  In 2008, the contest eliminated the chain restaurant category and allowed restaurants to compete in either fine dining or casual dining.

Each year the contest is judged by prominent members of the foodservice industry.  Finalists are chosen from entry forms submitted from January through March.  Along with category changes, the contest also altered the amount of finalists chosen for each category.  The first two years featured five finalists in each category.  In 2008, the number of finalists increased to eight in each group.  In 2009, the number of finalists increased to 10.  Once finalists are chosen, the judges visit their restaurant as mystery shoppers and judge each dish on their use of North Carolina products, creativity, presentation, taste, and promotion of the dish.  Winners are announced each August and presented their award at an NCDA event. 

Past Winners