Governor O’Malley Invites Recipes for Annual Buy Local Cookout

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 20, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley invites chefs using Maryland ingredients from Maryland sources to submit original recipes for the Fifth Annual “Buy Local Cookout,” which will be held at Government House in Annapolis on Thursday, July 19. Recipes must be submitted by a chef and include products from at least one Maryland farmer, waterman, or other producer. The cookout is the increasingly popular kick-off event for the statewide Buy Local Challenge Week (July 21-29), during which all Marylanders are encouraged to eat at least one local product each day of the week. Recipe submissions are due May 21.

“Hosting the Buy Local Cookout has become an annual celebration of Maryland’s bounty and gives us the opportunity to feature local chefs, farmers and other producers,” said Governor O’Malley. “Maryland has such a strong agricultural heritage. When we ‘buy local,’ we are helping to preserve and support that heritage. The recipes that are submitted every year are always delicious and show off the best of what Maryland has to offer. I look forward to seeing this year’s culinary innovations.”

Recipes that represent Maryland’s best bounty will be chosen in each of the following categories:

• Appetizer
• Main dish
• Side dish or salad
• Dessert
• Beverage

Selected teams will have the opportunity to provide, prepare, and share their dish at the Governor’s Cookout.  Chefs should note that recipes may be published in the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s 2012 Maryland Buy Local Cookout Recipes cookbook. For complete rules of entry and additional information.

Recipes should be submitted online here.

If you do not have internet access, contact Karen Fedor at Karen.fedor@maryland.gov or 410-841-5773 for instructions on how to submit a paper application.

For more information about Buy Local Challenge Week.