DigIn Bell Rings Prematurely at Edelyn

-Punta Gorda, Ca.
-Cooking has concluded here at Edelyn Cooking Arena in Punta Gorda, Fla., with a projected score of 97.0, though that could vary wildly once the critics actually chow down on the food. It looks a tad bleak here, though, as last year, the chefs rammed down 98.8 here at Edelyn.

Jim McAllister and Lisa Choi are tied at the top of the leaderboard with 41 points each.

"Feel positive about our outcome today, a bit worried about how the score will turn out. If we get something comparatively low, it might make it seem as if we have a higher mountain to scale on Nov. 22," said McAllister. "So we'll see."

Choi felt "exceedingly confident" about how the score would come out, and Joe Pasik labeled himself as "relieved, ebullient, but a tad concerned scorewise."

The score announcement is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. E/5 p.m. P.






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After 3 Hours, 96.8

-Punta Gorda, Fla.
-A large spike in scoring has brought the projected here at Edelyn to 96.8 with a half hour remaining.

Lisa Choi has overtaken Jim McAllister in points, with 39 to Jimmy's 37.

Third in points is Lynn Avi (33).




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After 2 1/2 Hours, 95.7

-Punta Gorda, Fla.
-It's 95.7 here after 2 1/2 hours, meaning the FFers still have a smidgen of work to do to get the score here at Edelyn up to last year's standards, when they scored a 98.9.

Jim McAllister leads with 35 points; Lisa Choi is second with 33.

Next update: 7E/4P





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After an Hour, 88.3

-Punta Gorda, Fla.
-After one hour of cooking here in Punta Gorda, Jim McAllister continues to lead in points with 17, with Lisa Choi second with 16.

The score, 88.3, is rapidly rising. A few snags, such as a burned turkey and spilled stuffing, have held the score at an hour back a little bit, but those little incidents were mostly in the first twenty to thirty minutes, and it now seems that the chefs have regrouped and recovered.

"Had a couple mishaps," said Thenoø Law. "Got to put 'em behind us and rocket on. 'Sall we can do."

Next update: 6E/3P





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Cooking at Edelyn

-Punta Gorda, Fla.
-We're underway! The cooking portion bell rang at 3:54 E/12:54 P, and we're now cookin' at Edelyn!

Jim McAllister has had a strong start, as usual, already leading in points.

Next update: 5E/2P




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Minutes Away at Edelyn

-Punta Gorda, Fla.
-We're now mere minutes away from the start if the official cooking portion here in Punta Gorda's Edelyn Cooking Arena. The official start time was pushed forward from 4pmE/1pmP to 3:50pmE/12:50pmP. All introductions and pre-ceremonies have concluded, so we are now just waiting for the bell to sound.

The 3 1/2-hour exhibition has a scheduled DigIn time of 7:30pmE/4:30pmP. So far, the stands here at Edelyn look good and full.




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Final List for Edelyn Released

-Punta Gorda, Fla.
-The final list has been released for the exhibition here in Punta Gorda, which will start in about forty minutes.

The Mason Duo will again not be participating due to prior commitments--to make up for the fact that they will have missed the last two exhibitions, they have announced plans to schedule an unofficial mock exhibition with some of the Feast Fest chefs in Los Angeles "sometime in early November." Stephen Dreim also will not participate due to his continually mired negotiations with Feast Fest scouters.

We know now the names of five other chefs who will sit out the exhibition:

Cook
Okoworth
Allworth
Jurrjens
Anders

Jawroldy Jurrjens, who missed Monday's Morro Bay exhibition, will also miss this one as he continues to recover from a bout of mononucleosis.

Patti Allworth is also too sick to attend, and Peter Cook is staying behind to board up his Maryland home and establishment for the impending Hurricane Sandy.






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