Meet the Wilmington-area chefs and mixologists in a statewide culinary competition

Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·2 min read
Pastry chef Gerald Hawkins Jr. created this Strawberry Pavlova with fruit from Carol Sue Farms, Nilla Wafer Créme Fraiche and Balsamic Gastrique for Beach Shop and Grill restaurant in Topsail Beach
Pastry chef Gerald Hawkins Jr. created this Strawberry Pavlova with fruit from Carol Sue Farms, Nilla Wafer Créme Fraiche and Balsamic Gastrique for Beach Shop and Grill restaurant in Topsail Beach

A year after two Wilmington-area chefs reached the semifinal round in a statewide culinary competition, they – and more local talent -- are back for the 2024 contest. The NCRLA Chef Showdown (hosted by the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association and the N.C. Department of Agriculture) asks chefs, pastry chefs and mixologists to use produce, proteins and products made in the state.

For this eighth annual event, 53 chefs, 11 pastry chefs and 20 mixologist / distillery teams are participating. Preliminary competition rounds started in March and will continue through June. After that, 18 chefs and 8 pastry chefs will progress to the semi-final round in July. The final 20 chefs will go on to the 2024 NCRLA Grand Finale on Aug. 26 in Durham, along with the six top-scoring mixologists. Here’s a look at the eight local contestants.

Chefs and pastry chef

Gerald Hawkins Jr.: This pastry chef works at both The Beach Shop and Grill in Topsail Beach and at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, creating dishes like his interpretation of Atlantic Beach Pie and Doughnut Bread Pudding. He also regularly participates in the Chef Showdown and was named runner-up in the pastry category in 2022.

Shawn Buskirk: If his name sounds familiar, Buskirk was also in the Own Your Own restaurant competition hosted by Burgaw Now. He has his own business, Cheek & Belly Catering in Holly Ridge, has started a food truck, and has plans for a unique concept in Pender County.

Nicholas Chavez: This chef is also a fan of competitions – and was also in one that aired on the Food Network. Locally, he’s been associated with Salt Fish in Carolina Beach and King Neptune in Wrightsville Beach. Now, the chef is working with N. Sea Oyster Co., which will launch their 2024 food service on May 11, with seafood-focused menus for dinner Thursday through Saturday and Sunday brunch.

Mauricio Huarcaya: In last year’s competition, this chef made it to the Grand Finale. Can he do it again? He’s the executive chef at the plant-based restaurant The Green House and has his own pop-up brand, Gustu Peruano. In the latter, he shares the flavors of his native Peru.

Timothy McDowell: While it’s outside the immediate Wilmington area, many locals have visited Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery in Elizabethtown for the day, or the weekend. This chef leads the kitchen at this resort that includes a winery, distillery, museum, restaurant, tasting room, spa, and gallery.

A Manhattan and Sesamo cocktail at End of Days Distillery in Wilmington's Cargo District.
A Manhattan and Sesamo cocktail at End of Days Distillery in Wilmington's Cargo District.

Mixologists and distilleries

Gustavo Bellavida and End of Days Distillery: The Brazilian born Bellavida joined the EOD team in 2020. ⁣⁣In addition to creating cocktails there, he’s also dabbles in distilling. This team also competed in the Showdown last year.

Ricky Watson and Momentum Spirits: Watson is the bartender that many people see behind the bar at Catch restaurant. For this year’s event, he’s teamed up with this distillery in downtown Wilmington.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington, NC, chefs, mixologists in NCRLA Chef Showdown