HoneySweet onions from Edinburg, Texas-based J&D Produce had a starring role at the Oct. 16-20 World Food Championships.
J&D Produce sponsored the Top Ten Burger competition at the event, attended by 25,000 and drawing more than 1,400 chefs and home cooks from 42 states and 15 countries to Dallas’ Reunion Arena Park.
All the finalists in the Top Ten Burger championship utilized HoneySweet onions from J&D Produce, according to a news release.
“We saw a wide variety of uses for the HoneySweet onion, and lots of creativity,” James Bassetti, vice president of operations at J&D Produce and guest judge at the event, said in the release. “There were bacon truffle and cheese stuffed HoneySweet onion rings, quick pickled HoneySweets, crispy fried onion rings topping burgers, bacon wrapped HoneySweets, and more. It was amazing to see what these talented competitors could come up with.”
Since it first show in 2012, the WFC has helped created 30 TV food stars, awarded more than $1.8 million in prize money, garnered more than 6.9 billion media impressions, and connected more than 150 food brands with food fans, bloggers and media, according to the release.
This year, the event boasted a $350,000 prize purse, with the winning burger worth $10,000 as well as a chance at a $100,000 prize at WFC’s Final Table challenge.
“These HoneySweet onions were phenomenal. I love the flavor profile,” chef Jay Ducote, celebrity chef and emcee of the burger competition, said in the release. “They’re super sweet, with no tears at all while cutting them. You just don’t get that acidic burn that you get with a lot of onions, and with a high sugar content they caramelize beautifully.”
The champion in the burger competition went to James Cheek of Sweet Cheek’s Pit BBQ in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, for his Hometown Smashburger featuring caramelized HoneySweet onions.
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