Cooks had to buy 80 percent of their ingredients from the Farmer's Market.
/ Kristen Aguirre/KHQA Reporter
QUINCY, ILL. -- Where does your food come from?
The Historic Quincy Business District gave you a little insight Saturday.
The organization held the eighth annual Locally Grown Food Fest at Washington Park.
Part of the fest was the Amateur Chef's Competition.
No, they aren't professional chefs, but they are foodies that love to cook with local ingredients.
"I'm big on home grown, home cooked food so many people just don't do that these days," Shelly Hudnut, who is competing for the first time said.
"It's fantastic food, it's so fresh, so vibrant and you can really tell the difference," Todd Shackelford, a second time competitor said.
The only requirement of the Amateur Chef's Competition was that 80 percent of the meal's ingredients had to be bought at the Farmer's Market.
"The fact that we have the ability to support locally grown agriculture is wonderful," Lenny Bart, a first year competitor said.
"When you buy local, you're buying from farmers that are in this area and you're helping to support them rather then shipping your money somewhere else," Executive Director of the Quincy Historic Business District, Travis Brown said.
Which wasn't a problem for the cooks.
"The Farmer's Market has a very good variety and you can see different ideas an inspire people," Andy Flachs, third year Amateur Chef's competitor said.
"When you taste the food that's available here at the market, you'll never go back," Shackelford said.
The exact message Food Fest wants to get across and residents are willing to listen with open ears, and stomachs.
First place of the Amateur Chef's Competition went to Flachs for his vegetable Thai curry.
If you're interested in any of these recipes, click here.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKHQA