The state tourism office has a new trail for foodies to follow.
The state will launch the Connecticut TV-to-Table Trail with a chance for one winner to join celebrity chef Scott Conant as a judge in a live cooking competition during the Oct. 5 launch, according to a news release.
Similar to the Connecticut Pizza Trail and the Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail, the new trail will debut in Stamford and highlight Conant, along with Connecticut chefs, restaurants and food destinations that have been featured on national food television shows, according to the release.
To win a place at the table, entrants must complete a short “Connecticut foodie trivia quiz” by Sept. 22, according to the release. Ten winners will be invited to the launch ceremony on Oct. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m., according to CTVisit. One of those 10 will be selected to serve as a judge in the live cooking competition alongside Conant. The winning chef will receive $2,000 to donate to a food-related charity of their choice, according to the release.
“Connecticut has become known for finding creative new ways to showcase what makes our state worth experiencing, and food is a huge part of that story,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in the release. “Some of the most talented chefs in the country are cooking right here in Connecticut, and many of them have captured national attention on television. This new trail and tourism experience will give people another reason to seek them out, visit their restaurants, and discover just how extraordinary Connecticut’s food scene has become.”
Conant is a James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and longtime television personality. A recurring judge on Food Network’s “Chopped,” Conant’s Martone Street line of pasta sauces is named for the Waterbury street where his grandparents grew up, according to the release.
“Connecticut is my first home and will always be my forever home, so being part of a trail that celebrates the chefs and restaurants putting this state on the national culinary map is especially meaningful,” Conant said in the release. “There is incredible talent here, and I’m excited for people to experience it firsthand — and to have a little fun with some of these chefs in the kitchen.”
Guests at the launch will have the opportunity to sample dishes from Connecticut chefs and restaurants featured on television shows including “Chopped,” “Guy’s Grocery Games,” “Cupcake Wars,” “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” “Best Bite in Town” and others, according to the release.
Dining and Cooking