The thirteenth annual Market En Plein Air at the Florence Griswold Museum will debut their first BEAT Shoreline Chef Competition on July 30 at a stage perched alongside the Lieutenant River. Three acclaimed local chefs will be tasked with creating a unique dish using secret ingredients culled from the market's vendors. This year's competitors are Kris Rowe of the Bee & Thistle Inn and Spa, Everett Reid of Restaurant L & E and Oaxaca Kitchen's Prasad Chirnomula. They will be judged by a cast of local foodies including Foodie Fatale writer Jocelyn Ruggiero and PM Magazine's Phantom Gourmet Sheldon Bake.
Over 6,000 people attended last year's Market En Plein Air, where bakers, organic farmers and specialty foods purveyors showcase locally-farmed fare in a French country market setting. Over 25 vendors have already signed up for the event, including Howard's Bread of Chester, Colchester's Cato Corner Farm, East Lyme's White Gate Farm and Artisan Truffles of Branford. Admission is free, a lunch from Gourmet Gallery and a scenic walk traversing the museum's historic eleven-acre grounds are also on offer. The market will be held from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and the chef's competition begins at noon.
The Florence Griswold Museum is located at 96 Lyme Street in Old Lyme.
