2011 top chef named during Utah Hotel and Lodging Association convention

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hotel and Lodging Association crowned the Top Chef for 2011 during its recent annual convention and trade show in Salt Lake City.

Seven talented chefs from hotels around the state battled for the title “2011 Top Chef.”

During the competition, they had an hour and half to make two dishes at their own cooking stations.

After scoring the dishes, a panel handed over its results to be tallied. The title of 2011 Top Chef was awarded to Chef Peter Hodgson from the University Park Marriott. He is the executive chef there.

He is the current president of the Beehive Chefs Chapter of the American Culinary Federation and is also the chef mentor of the Utah ProStart Program. Over the past five years, the program has grown to over 1,200 students and 44 schools participating.

Second place was awarded to Chef Shawn Armstrong from the Montage Deer Valley, and third place was given to Chef Enrique Yescas from the Hilton Garden Inn/Davis Conference Center.

The competition was fierce. The top finishers were within 2 ½ points of each other.