03/28/2026
โจ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐๐น๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ & ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด! โจ
On Wednesday I had the absolute honor of competing in Chef Fest at Town Point Club in Norfolk, an event that benefited Easterseals PORT Health and Culinary Connections.
These two organizations do incredible work for our local community, and itโs so important that our Coastal Virginia culinary community continues to rally behind them. Their support for people with disabilities and their dedication to strengthening connections in the food industry make events like this possible and truly meaningful.
I created โ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐" ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ โ ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น โ a dish with ZERO oysters but 100% Chesapeake Bay soul. Local Blue Oyster mushrooms from The Tidewater Mushroom Company, folded with fresh spinach, cream, and aged parmesan, crowned with shaved parmesan and crisp Virginia bacon. A single pearl onion (soaked in 30-year-aged sherry) hides like a secret treasure beneath the sauce, all served on reclaimed oyster shells that were recycled back into the Lynnhaven River by Lynnhaven River Now.
๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐? ๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ก ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ + ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐ โ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒโ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ โ the food-critic award chosen by Patrick Evans-Hylton and his panel! This one hits different. My grandmother โNannyโ used to cut Patrickโs recipes out of The Virginian-Pilot and take me grocery shopping so we could cook them together. To now receive an award from the very man whose words she loved is truly special.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of my family:
โค๏ธ My mom, my biggest fan since day one
โค๏ธ My brother, who would follow me anywhere and support every crazy dream
โค๏ธ My husband Chris, who has encouraged me and stood by my side every step of the way
โค๏ธ My children, who have always cheered me on and helped with the family business
A huge thank you also goes to my right-hand rockstar Evan (4+ years strong!), all the other dedicated employees at Mermaid Catering, the rest of my family, my old friends who have been there through it all, and the new friends Iโve been so happy to meet and who have shown such wonderful support.
We just celebrated our 10-year anniversary, and this live competition win feels like the perfect full-circle moment.
Thank you to everyone who came out, voted, cheered, and supported local chefs and Virginia ingredients โ and especially for helping lift up Easterseals PORT Health and Culinary Connections. Your love and support mean everything to our entire culinary community.
๐งก Julie
