ROCKLAND, WEYMOUTH, HANOVER, ISSUED JANUARY 23, 2025… Calling all home chefs, food truck chefs, local celebrity chefs, and culinary students! The South Shore Food Bank, working to improve food access on the South Shore, help address food equity across towns, and help make fresh options more readily available to families relying on food pantries to meet their needs, is excited to present FOOD FIGHT! On June 21st cooks from across the region will compete for the title of FOOD FIGHT Champion.
Based around the theme of “food brings people together,” FOOD FIGHT will give budding and seasoned local chefs alike a chance to test their skills, wits, and creativity in a series of live battles for a winner-takes-it-all title!
The exciting event will be held on Saturday, June 21st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Starland Sportsplex and Fun Park, 645 Washington Street (Route 53) in Hanover. FOOD FIGHT will showcase the delicious food, outstanding talent, and diverse culinary culture of the South Shore.
The event will be hosted by nationally recognized celebrity Chef Stephen Coe, a five-time “Chopped Champion” who has also bested fellow celebrity chef Bobby Flay in the Food Network’s “Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay.” A graduate of the prestigious culinary arts program at Johnson & Wales University, Coe previously served as executive chef at Mirbeau Inn & Spa at The Pinehills. He owns The Early Bird restaurant and the catering company and Defined Palate, both in Kingston. Chef Coe’s newest endeavors include restaurant locations in St. Thomas and St Croix.
Local chefs will compete in four categories – restaurant chef, student chef, food truck chef, and home chef – for a chance to advance to the final round and face off against Chef Coe. Laurie Hepworth, publisher of Edible Southeastern Massachusetts, is among the distinguished judges presiding over the event.
Other FOOD FIGHT highlights will include artisanal food vendors, a beer and beverage garden, live music, and a food truck court.
The fun-for-a-cause event will help to support food access operations throughout the South Shore.
“As the signature fundraising event for the South Shore Food Bank, we aim to celebrate all things food while fostering new creative collaborations to advance our mission to ensure a food secure community,” said Pamela Denholm,executive director of the South Shore Food Bank. “This is going to be one amazing event!”
Sponsors to date include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Stop & Shop, Cape Cod 5, and The Rug Merchant.
To sponsor the event or purchase tickets, please visit https://secure.qgiv.com/…/ssfbfoodfigh…/event/foodfight/. Early Bird tickets at a reduced price are available now through March 1st.
Vendor Applications are available at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScck0VOv_jFWFfCSCYdq8QXRw5ZoHpyLMt_BJd0dMJxOjP6mA/viewform?usp=sf_link
About the South Shore Food Bank
Established in 2021, the South Shore Food Bank is part of a united community effort to bring food, dignity and hope to our South Shore neighbors. The organization acts as a hub for a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters supported by Greater Boston Food Bank, helping to get food to where it’s most needed, especially fresh produce and frozen goods. Currently, the South Shore Food Bank serves pantries in towns throughout the South Shore, including Abington, Braintree, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Canton, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Hanover, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plympton, Quincy, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Weymouth, and Whitman.
The South Shore Food Bank is located at 40E Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370. For more information, please visit www.southshorefoodbank.org, email info@weymouthfoodpantry.org, or call 781-331-7682.