Dole announces 2014 California Cook-Off contest winner

With the help of Chrystal Baker from DuoDishes.com, Naylet LaRochelle from Miami has won the sixth annual Dole California Cook-Off grilling competition and a grand prize of $25,000 for her winning recipe, Breezy Indian-Spiced Chicken with Mango-Peanut Sauce, Dates and Grilled Mango.



LaRochelle was one of three finalists flown out to Los Angeles Saturday late last week to participate in the 2014 Dole California Cook-Off, along with runner-up Roxanne Chan of Albany, California, with her Singapore Scallop Stacks and Barbara Estabrook of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, with her Grilled Tropical Fruit 'n Shrimp Crostini with Prosciutto Crackles.



The three finalists faced one another in the center plaza of the high-trafficked Santa Monica Place outdoor mall to prep, cook and plate a recipe in 60 minutes or less using at least one Dole packaged food product, up to 10 additional ingredients and a Weber gas grill. Giveaways included signed copies of “Taming the Feast” by Chef Ben Ford and several Weber grills.



"I am so excited and honored to have won the 2014 Dole California Cook-Off using one of my go-to kitchen staples, Dole Frozen Mango chunks!" said LaRochelle, who has also won numerous other national cooking competitions in the past several years.



Chef Ford led the panel of judges and demonstrated a variety of grilled dishes on stage featuring Dole. The judging panel also included Dole packaged foods president Brad Bartlett, local TV personality and lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette and Carly Reynolds, the Dole.com sweepstakes winner from Lexington, Kentucky. The finalists' recipes were judged on the best use of Dole Packaged Foods products, creativity, flavor and taste, ease of preparation and presentation.