Chef Paul Prudhomme Shows Why He's Still the Best

Prudhomme Wins $10,000 For Meals On Wheels As The Idaho Potato Commission
Teams Up With The Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation

EAGLE, Idaho, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolfgang Puck and four of his
world-renowned chef friends partnered with the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC)
for the second annual recipe contest at the 26th American Wine & Food Festival
(AWFF) held on the back lot of Universal Studios in Los Angeles on Saturday,
September 27th. Star chefs battled it out in a fierce competition of culinary
skills as they each vied for the grand prize $10,000 charitable donation in
their name.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/LA37570)

Legendary Chef Paul Prudhomme of K-Paul's Louisiana was the evening's big
winner. Prudhomme and his Executive Chef Paul Miller held nothing back as they
prepared a Pirogue de Patate d'Idaho Plein Sauce Blanc avec Fromage, also
known as a Full Boat Idaho Potato Pirogue with White Cheese Sauce. Judges
swooned over the Cajun-style dish made with Idaho Potatoes, leeks, cheese,
heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes and some of Chef's own Magic(R). Prudhomme was
the very first chef to commit to the contest - doing so a full year in
advance, immediately following Nobu Matsuhisa's crowning at the inaugural
competition last September.

"Wolfgang always puts on an amazing show and I've enjoyed participating for
many years," stated Prudhomme. "This year's Idaho potato contest was a fun new
twist. We knew we had an amazing dish to present the judges... And a little
magic always helps," he added with a wink.

Other chefs participating in the contest included heavy hitters such as
Michael Mina (XIV), Lydia Shire (Scampo) and Nancy Silverton (Mozza). Dishes
were judged on the best use of the product (i.e. potatoes), originality of
recipe, flavor and presentation.

"Once again, we were awed by the level of competition created by these chefs,"
commented Frank Muir, IPC President/CEO and one of the judges. "Last year's
contest set the bar pretty high, and so we had big expectations for the
quality of recipes we'd be tasting. They definitely did not disappoint. And
the best part is that each chef participated knowing that they walked away
with a pat on the back - The $10,000 prize went to Meals on Wheels!"

The American Wine & Food Festival, founded by Wolfgang Puck and Barbara
Lazaroff, drew a crowd of nearly 2,500 to the intimate setting of Universal
Studios' back lot. Feasting on fare served up by 40 celebrity chefs and 70
fine wine and spirits purveyors, and bidding on auction items that money
(literally) cannot buy under other circumstances, the festival benefits Los
Angeles area Meals on Wheels programs.

Although Idaho is famous worldwide for its premium potatoes, some consumers
don't realize that only potatoes grown in the Gem State can wear the "Grown in
Idaho" Seal. Both words Idaho Potatoes and the "Grown in Idaho" seal are
federally registered Certification Marks that certify to consumers that they
are purchasing genuine Idaho Potatoes that have been grown in the state of
Idaho.

SOURCE Idaho Potato Commission

Donna Romani of EvansHardy+Young, +1-805-963-5841, ext. 208, dromani@ehy.com,
for Idaho Potato Commission