The University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) Foundation is bringing back the highly anticipated culinary event, Diamond Chef Arkansas, on April 3, 2025. The event will be held at the UA-PTC South site at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute, featuring restaurants like Brood & Barley, Cache, Ciao Baci, and more. Past champions from culinary competitions will return in a new role for this year’s installment.
The competition aims to raise money for student scholarships, programs, and resources for culinary and hospitality degree programs at UA-PTC. Chef Payne Harding of Cache restaurant serves as an adjunct instructor in the UA-PTC Culinary program and will be chairing the event alongside Leah Harding. The format will include six chef teams competing in the Coca Cola Competition Lab, with UA-PTC students paired with past Diamond Chef Champions.
Sponsors for the event include Allegra Print and Imaging, Bank OZK, Baptist Health, and more. General admission tickets are priced at $100, with limited VIP tickets available for $200. VIP ticket holders will have access to the VIP lounge, where they can sample competition recipes and enjoy a signature diamond cocktail. Guest judges for the event include Kevin Shalin, Jennifer Maune, and Chef Ken Dempsey.
This year, Diamond Chef will honor individuals who have supported the local culinary field and the mission of UA-PTC. The event promises to be a celebration of central Arkansas’s culinary landscape while raising funds to benefit students at UA-Pulaski Tech.
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