Chef Matt Deering, executive chef of Park Road cocktail spot Dot Dot Dot, won the title of Chef of the Year at the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s annual Chef Showdown on Monday night. At Dot Dot Dot, Deering has quietly served an impressive menu to pair with the cocktail bar’s renowned drinks, rooted in Southern ingredients but taking on global inspiration. His style of cooking is reflected in the dish that won him the competition: a polenta dumpling with confit pork belly, charred bok choy, chestnut mushroom, sweet corn espuma, and amari and sorghum jus.

15 savory chefs cooked for guests at the event in Durham, providing small bites to attendees to vote on a fan favorite. A panel of judges selected Deering to earn the title of Chef of the Year. Pastry chefs and mixologists also competed for top honors, with winners in the other categories coming from elsewhere in the state…

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