Guelph chef Adam Calzonetti is inching closer to winning the big prize in the Favorite Chef competition.
The annual online competition is presented by celebrity chef Carla Hall and gives chefs and home cooks from all over the chance to win the title and a prize package valued at $122,000 through online voting.
The grand prize winner will receive $25,000 and grace the cover of Taste of Home magazine. They will also get an exclusive cooking experience with Hall herself, and tickets to the James Beard Foundation Gala on Nov. 8.
Second place, chosen by Hall herself, will receive a foodie trip to New York City valued at $7,500.
Calzonetti now sits in second place among the top five in his group. The chef in first place in each group by June 27 moves onto the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. There will also be a wildcard round for the chef’s who landed in second place. Final winners will be announced the first week of August.
Votes can be cast daily for free. Donations can also be made to increase the number of votes you can cast, with funds raised going to the James Beard Foundation.
Another local chef, Kyle Mullins, was previously in the top 10 of his group at eighth place, but didn’t make the cut for the top five and is now out of the competition.
While Mullins didn’t think he would make it to the top five, he told CambridgeToday he was overwhelmed by the “incredible” community support.
You can vote for your favourite chef online.
