Cynthia McFadden grew up in Maine, so she considers herself something of an expert on seafood. During her travels a few weeks ago, she discovered a place where they cook up some of the best shrimp and king crab legs she has ever had — it’s a little joint in a strip mall called “Hot N Juicy Crawfish” … in the desert outside of Vegas!
The experience got the crew at “Nightline” talking about how some of the best undiscovered chefs in the country are out there somewhere, toiling in obscurity. Now, they want your help in finding them.
Even the most famous celebrity chefs — Rachael Ray, Mario Batali, Paula Deen — began somewhere. We’ve all gotten to hear their stories on Nightline’s “Platelist” series, where they’ve shared their recipes and told the stories of how they got their starts. And so this summer, they are launching a contest in which you, the audience, are invited to help them find the best unknown chefs in America.
They’re calling it “The People’s Platelist.”
If your favorite unknown chefs are as good as you tell them they are, they’ll come to your town to interview them. And they’ll also showcase nine runners-up. They want–and need– your help to do this.
If you have a beloved local chef or someone who deserves to be spotlighted, please nominate him or her for the People’s Platelist. Then, rally your friends to vote for your favorite later in the summer.
You need to read the rules HERE if you want to enter. But basically, here’s how it works: Think of your favorite local chef. Build a list of reasons why. Then go HERE and fill out an online nomination form.
But back to Cynthia McFadden’s trip to Hot N Juicy Crawfish. It was a wonderful accident.
What was supposed to be a girls’ weekend in Paris with some of her fanciest friends was cancelled due to the volcano in Iceland. But then someone suggested a weekend in Vegas instead.
Things started to look like they were going to be fun when they got picked up in a Rolls Royce sent out to the airport by the hotel, and one of the Vegas regulars in the group said, “We’re going to go to the best place for lunch!”
They drove down the strip, past all the famous shiny restaurants there. And McFadden sat there thinking, “This is going to be good.” And then the driver just kept going. On the outskirts of Vegas she said, under her breath, “He must be lost, he’s taken a wrong turn.”
“He’s not lost,” said the woman seated next to her.
Finally they pulled into the Spring Mountain Plaza Shopping Center. Cynthia couldn’t help but to think “No way, no.” Then, soon after they were seated, the waiters started bringing out plates of king crab legs, spicy shrimp in plastic bags and piles of rice.
Now, whenever she finds herself at some catered press event or movie screening, with the waiters walking around with delicate lump crab appetizers and poached lobster bruschetta… she finds herself daydreaming. What she really wants is one of those steaming plates of crawfish with the Hot N Juicy special sauce that she had that afternoon at the Spring Mountain Plaza strip mall.
They are accepting nominations through the July 23.
They already have hundreds of nominations, but please keep sending in your favorites. They hope to hear about chefs from every state in the nation. They will go through the nominations and choose 10 finalists.
They will be judged based on geographic diversity and the authenticity or originality of their cooking. When you make your nomination, please include whatever you can tell them about your favorite chef’s philosophy, character, and interesting back story.
They’ll contact the people who nominated the 10 finalists and ask you to make a very short video introducing the audience to your favorite unknown chef. And then they’ll air the videos on Nightline, post them online… and let the voting begin.
The winner will be announced in September — and Cynthia McFadden and her crew will come to meet you and your chef, and film a Nightline Platelist for air on their broadcast.
So, calling all food lovers, stand up and be heard! Send in your nomination now for Nightline’s People’s Platelist.
