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    PA Preferred® Culinary Connection Stage

    soy sauce-braised boneless pork butt with shiitake mushrooms

    Celebrate the flavors of Pennsylvania at the PA Preferred Culinary Connection Stage! Talented chefs showcase dishes made with PA Preferred and local ingredients, highlighting the creativity, quality, and pride of our Commonwealth’s farms. Enjoy live cooking demonstrations, insider tips, and interactive tastings that bring Pennsylvania’s farms and kitchens together in delicious, inspiring ways.
     

    Daily Schedule

    Time          Event
    10 AMHoney Extraction Demonstration: PA State Beekeepers Association
    11 AM Chef Instructor Mike Dinan and Students, PA College of Technology, Williamsport, PA: Corned Beef and Cabbage
    12 PMColby and Meagan Janowitz, Owners, Mycelia, and Graduates of the PA College of Technology: Braised Short Ribs & Savory Rice Porridge
    1 PMThermador Chefs Challenge – “Iron Chef” Style Cook-off with local Chefs and Media Personalities
    2 PMWes Trout, Sales Manager, Thermador and Gerald Metzler, Founder, Christiana Cabinetry and Enola Cattle Co., Atglen, PA: Braised Oxtail over Creamy PA Polenta
    3 PMScott Calhoun, Chef and Owner, Ember & Ash, Philadelphia, PA: Grilled Skirt Steak Hand Rolls, Soy Cured Egg Yolk, Rice and Cucumber
    4 PMJohn Moeller, former White House Chef and Author of Dining at the White House—From the President’s Table to Yours and Owner and Executive Chef, The Greenfield Restaurant & Bar, Lancaster, PA: Sautéed Veal Medallions with Mushrooms and Fine Herb Mustard Cream Sauce
    5 PMJen Heasley, Author of The Game Day Kitchen and Host of “Cooking with the Pros” on CBS 21: Chesapeake Burger                                                                                                                                                           
    6 PMMaple Production Demonstration: PA Maple Syrup Producers

    Time          Event
    10 AMMaple Production Demonstration: PA Maple Syrup Producers
    11 AM Chef Instructor Mike Ditchfield and Students, PA College of Technology, Williamsport, PA: Keystone Stone Soup
    12 PMKurt Wewer, Chef and Owner, Central PA Chef Consultants, in partnership with Tyler Strohecker, Pennsylvania Game Commission: French Onion Venison Soup (Slow Cooker Version) 
    1 PMBryan Voltaggio, American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author, “Top Chef” television series alum, and a semifinalist for the James Beard Award: Rigatoni Mushroom Bolognese with Mushroom Confit, Enoki Hay, and Cashew Parmesan
    2 PMDavid Santucci and Heather Santucci, Giorgio Fresh, Avondale, PA: Creamy Mushroom Gnocchi
    3 PMBryan Voltaggio, American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author, “Top Chef” television series alum, and a semifinalist for the James Beard Award: PA Fish and Chips
    4 PMAdam Diltz, Owner and Executive Chef, Elwood Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA: Turnip Salad
    5 PMSchool Cooking Challenge: Students from Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
    6 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration: PA State Beekeepers Association 

    Time          Event
    10 AMHoney Extraction Demonstration: PA State Beekeepers Association 
    11 AM Shanna Shultz, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian, GIANT: Kale & Sausage Tortellini Soup with Apple Harvest Salad
    12 PMBarry Crumlich, Executive Chef, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence: Falafel Bites with Butternut Squash Hummus and Charred Harissa Carrots with Painterland Sisters Yogurt
    1 PMThe GIANT Chefs Battle
    2 PMJena Wood, MS, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian, GIANT: Mushroom–Beef Burger with Broccoli Slaw
    3 PMJoni Rampolla, MBA, RDN, LDN, Registered Dietitian, GIANT: Salsa Turkey Meatloaf Muffins with Roasted Potatoes
    4 PMCharlotte Scheid, MEd, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian, GIANT: Ground Beef Stroganoff and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Herbs
    5 PMErin Reed, Chef Instructor and Students, IUP Academy of Culinary Arts, Punxsutawney, PA: Sweet Potato Swiss Roll with Cope’s Corn Ice Cream and Spice Roasted Honeycrisp Apples
    6 PMMaple Production Demonstration: PA Maple Syrup Producers 

    Time          Event
    10 AMMaple Production Demonstration: PA Maple Syrup Producers 
    11 AM Thomas Barnes, Chef Instructor and Students, IUP Academy of Culinary Arts, Punxsutawney, PA: Potato Gnocchi with Sausage Ragu
    12 PMJared Lordon, Chef, Parkhurst Dining, Homestead, PA and Kala Vargo, Chef, Clink ’92, Pittsburgh, PA: Pommes Aligot
    1 PMThe Best Breakfast Potato Kids Showdown
    2 PMBen Beaver, Executive Chef, Per Diem at Hotel Rock, Lititz, PA: Potato Filling and Duck Confit
    3 PMAllie Doran, Miss Allie’s Kitchen, Pottsville, PA, Author of Venison Every Day: Venison Sloppy Joes on Potato Rounds
    4 PMAnastasio Santos, Assistant Branch Manager, The Restaurant Store, Camp Hill, PA: Purple Gnocchi
    5 PMSchool Cooking Challenge: Students from IUP Academy of Culinary Arts, Punxsutawney, PA
    6 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration: PA State Beekeepers Association  

    Time          Event
    10 AMHoney Extraction Demonstration: PA State Beekeepers Association  
    11 AM Chef Instructors Ethan Stauffer and Vito Mannino, Dauphin County Technical School, Harrisburg, PA: Mushroom Tacos
    12 PMAlexa Urteaga, Winner of the 2025 PA Mushroom Festival Chopped Cooking Contest: Mixed Mushroom Saltado with Kimchi Twist
    1 PM30-Minute Mushroom Meals Cook-off
    2 PMOlga Sorzano, Owner and Chef, Baba’s Bucha, Phoenixville, PA: Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Brown Butter
    3 PMDavid Katz, R&D Chef, FOODMatch, Philadelphia, PA: Farro & Mushroom “Risotto” with Roasted Yams, Lemon & Thyme
    4 PMTina Ellor, Technical Director, Phillips Mushroom Farms, Kennett Square, PA, and Chef Maureen Fowler, President, Sutton-Fowler Hospitality, Philadelphia, PA: Mushroom Cheesesteak and Mushroom Catsup
    5 PMSchool Cooking Challenge: Students from Dauphin County Technical School, Harrisburg, PA
    6 PMMaple Production Demonstration: PA Maple Syrup Producers  

    Time          Event
    10 AMMaple Production Demonstration: PA Maple Syrup Producers  
    11 AM SrA Shannon Oliveira, MSgt Aeisha Alexander-Floyd and TSgt Hisela Mendez, U.S. Air Force Executive Dining Facility, The Pentagon, Washington, DC: Queso Smothered Chicken & Grits
    12 PMCSC Adrian Hernandez, US Coast Guard Commandant’s Executive Flag Mess, Washington, DC and Joey Jurgielewicz, Owner, Joe Jurgielewicz & Son, Ltd., Shartlesville, PA: Uovo in Ravioli with Kale & Ricotta Filling In a Salsa di Noci (Ligurian Walnut Sauce) 
    1 PMArmy v.s. Navy Cook-off
    2 PMCS2(SCW/EXW) Kamaja Z. Elmore, Food Service Galley Watch Captain, Naval Support Facility, Thurmont, MD: Meat Lasagna with a Side of Garlic Toast and Arugula Salad 
    3 PMSenior Master Sergeant Tina Dronick and Master Sergeant Shanna Berkheimer, Pennsylvania Air National Guard: Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie and Mini Apple Cinnamon Whoopie Pies 
    4 PMChef Instructor Bobby Miller and Students, Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center, Mechanicsburg, PA:Chili Mac
    5 PMSchool Cooking Challenge: Students from Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center, Mechanicsburg, PA
    6 PMHoney Extraction Demonstration: PA State Beekeepers Association  

    Time          Event
    10 AMHoney Extraction Demonstration: PA State Beekeepers Association  
    11 AM Amber Denmon and Sarah Davis, Penn State Extension Educators, Food Safety & Quality Food, Families, & Communities, Penn State Extension, Dushore, PA: Peach-Jalapeño Pork Tenderloin Salad with Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette
    12 PMBryan Sanders, Owner, Mellie Bellies Southern Barbecue, Harrisburg, PA: Pork Medallions Smothered in Mushroom BBQ Reduction with Candied Sweet Potato Puree and Fried Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Hazelnuts
    1 PMPA Pork: Bacon Is Just the Beginning Cooking Competition 
    2 PMGeorge Adams, Production Chef, and Melanie Galarza, Director of Culinary Operations, Helping Harvest Community Kitchen, Reading, PA: Pennsylvania Stuffed Pork Loin with Apple Puree and Potato Hash
    3 PMAJ O’Neil, “Son of a Butcher” on PBS and Kurt Wewer, Chef and Owner, Central PA Chef Consultants: Maple Sausage with Roquefort, Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry Slaw
    4 PMTonii Hicks, Private Chef, Educator, Mentor, 2022 James Beard Fellow and Chef Instructor at the Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA: Roast Pork Sandwiches
    5 PMSchool Cooking Challenge: Students from Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
    6 PMMaple Production Demonstration: PA Maple Syrup Producers  

    Time          Event
    10 AMDiversity at the Table—Panel Discussion: “Redefining My American Dream”
    11 AM Alyssa Termini, Program Director at the Culinary Careers Program, Philadelphia, PA: Cheese Sablé Cookies
    12 PMAnnabelle Martin, age 9, PA Preferred Jr. Baking Contest Winner, and Danielle Martin, Wattsburg, PA: Sea Salt Caramel French Macaron Cookies
    1 PMUndeniably Dairy Milkshake Contest presented by American Dairy Association North East
    2 PMChef Tina Arnt, Culinary Instructor, Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center, Royersford, PA: Quiche Lorraine and Easy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
    3 PMSchool Cooking Challenge: Students from the Culinary Careers Program, Philadelphia, PA
    4 PMHayley and Stephanie Painter, Co-Owners and Co-CEOs, Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt, Westfield, PA: Apple Skyr Coffee Cake
    2026 Culinary Connection Stage Recipe Book

    ​2026 PA Preferred® Culinary Connection Recipe Book

    Welcome to this year’s edition of the PA Preferred® Culinary Connection Recipe Book!


    Inside, you’ll find the recipes showcased during the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show—each one inspired by Pennsylvania-grown ingredients and crafted by our region’s renowned chefs.

    View recipes