Calling all chefs and mixologists!

Pear season is still a few months away, but Pear Bureau Northwest is already looking for the nation’s finest chefs and mixologists to showcase in its annual Pear Panache program. Culinary professionals are encouraged to visit http://www.PearPanache.com to submit their original pear recipe and learn more about how they can win $500 if they have the most flair with the pear!

Pear Panache is an annual chef recognition campaign designed to recognize those culinary professionals who have demonstrated the most flair with the pear. Each year, Pear Bureau Northwest selects seven top chefs or mixologists to feature on http://www.PearPanache.com as inspiration for other pear connoisseurs. The website spotlights a different chef and his/her recipe each month from September 2008 – March 2009. Selected chefs will also be featured in national publicity and media opportunities and will take home $500. All professionals who enter will receive a pear prize package that includes a pear slicer, a collection of recipe cards, and more.

To be considered for Pear Panache recognition, professional chefs should visit http://www.PearPanache.com to complete an online entry form and submit their original pear recipe. All recipe categories, including Appetizer, Salad, Entrée, Dessert and Drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) are encouraged. Recipes will be reviewed to ensure their usability for everyday home chefs, and graded on taste, demonstration of pears’ versatility, originality, use of other seasonal ingredients, and visual appeal. Entry deadline is July 31, 2008.

About Pear Bureau Northwest and USA Pears
Pear Bureau Northwest is the non-profit marketing organization established in 1931 to promote the fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon. Together, these two states represent 1,700 growers and 84 percent of the nation’s fresh pear production. The Bureau also develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information, visit http://www.usapears.org.