The Vidalia Onion Committee announces the Fourth Annual Golden Onion culinary competition on April 26 in conjunction with the Vidalia Onion Festival. The competition is open to all professional chefs in Georgia.
    In its fourth year, the Golden Onion is an opportunity for Georgia chefs to compete and showcase their creativity and culinary skills while highlighting the versatility of Vidalia sweet onions.
    This year’s competition, scheduled for April 26 from noon to 4 p.m., will follow a format similar to previous events. Twelve chefs from around Georgia will be selected to compete in the competition. All chefs will be given one hour to prepare and present their signature Vidalia onion dishes to a panel of judges. However, this year’s competition features several new features, including a mystery box challenge featuring culinary students. Also new this year are small-plate tastings and signature drinks for event-goers.
    The Golden Onion Culinary Competition will also feature Mara Davis as emcee. Davis is a television and radio personality for “Atlanta Eats” and executive producer of “Tastemore Atlanta.” Her knowledge of the Georgia food scene and her passion for all things Georgia makes her an excellent commentator to engage the chefs and audience in an interactive play-by-play that is expected to be both fun and informative.
    “We are thrilled to be hosting this competition and helping to shine a light on the amazing chefs that bring food alive by making individual ingredients like Vidalia onions sing,” said Susan Waters, the executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee. “We believe the changes to this year’s event will create multiple opportunities for both chefs and consumers to enjoy some of Georgia’s finest products.”
    The event is open to the public with a ticket price of $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The ticket price covers the cost of food and refreshments to be provided by a variety of on-site vendors. 
    Chefs who would like to participate in the Golden Onion competition are encouraged to visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com/events-schedule/ and review the application and competition manual on Sunday’s events.