More than 500 recipes from across the country were narrowed to eight finalists for the 5th Annual IGA Hometown Holidays Challenge by representatives from the Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago Culinary Arts program.

On Thursday, May 4th, contestants and guests traveled to Chicago for a four-day stay at the Chicago Hilton Downtown. Upon arrival contestants found gourmet gift baskets in their rooms brimming with snacks, wine and a high-end cookbook. Later that evening everyone traveled via limousine for a delightful dinner at Greek Islands and enjoyed lovely conversation with hosts from IGA and their guests.

Friday morning seven finalists, plus a culinary student cooking for Allison Rosenthal (Luxenburg) due to the Friday afternoon arrival of Allison and her fiance, prepared their recipes in the Illinois Institute of Art Culinary Arts Program professional kitchen. Three culinary instructors judged the internationally diverse entries upon completion.

Friday evening and Saturday was leisure time until late afternoon when everyone assembled at the Illinois Institute of Art. The culinary students presented a multi-course dinner featuring gourmet twists on the contestants' entries. Burt Lindstrom, Assistant Director Culinary Arts, paired each course with a unique international wine. Everyone enjoyed the diverse wine selections while savoring the students' highly creative cuisine. Contestants, their guests and individuals entertained by IGA enjoyed a memorable dining experience. Following dinner, Zorona Chapman Nance, IGA Marketing Events Coordinator, announced the winners.

First time IGA cook-off entrant and Grand Prize winner of $3,000 was Athena Russell - SC, First Place winner of $500 was CCC Hall of Fame member and returning finalist Nikki Norman - TN/FL, Second Place winner of $300 was CCC Hall of Fame member Lisa Keys - CT. Other finalists included Allison Rosenthal (Luxenburg) - CA, daughter of CCC Hall of Fame member and finalist Michaela Rosenthal - CA, CCC member Barbara Estabrook - WI, returning finalist Hank Schriefer - CA,  and rounding out the eight contestants was Roland Ormrod - SC, known to many competitors as a finalist judge and volunteer for the National Oyster Cook-off. Most contestants departed on Sunday flights. To remember their cook-off experience participants received a photo DVD of the 5th Annual IGA Hometown Holidays Challenge

Thanks to Nikki Norman for the pictures and vivid description