-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Italian-specialist Vermont-based chef Tony Ruscoso was given the green light by the NCA on Wednesday to prepare his signature turkey tetrazzini this November during Feast Fest, as an exhibitional, non-scored dish that will be available to revelers to sample but otherwise be uninvolved in the event's performance.
It becomes the third time a chef has had their own unique dish approved by the NCA to be prepared in a non-scoring role. Lisa Choi will prepare her famous "pumpkins flambé" at Feast Fest for the first time this Thanksgiving, and Parker Payton has prepared caramelized mashed potatoes as a non-scored dish for years.
"We're trying to allow Feast Fest chefs to present more of their personal flair to the masses through their own unique dishes," said an official familiar with the situation.
Feast Fest scored foods--turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie, and appetizers, among others--follow rigid, strict recipes and allow for little experimentation or personal touches by the individual chefs.
FF Wire Service
The NCA Feast Fest lives here