Wild Rice and Corn Culinary Competition coming to McGregor
McGregor, Minn. —A new culinary competition is adding a flavorful twist to McGregor’s Labor Day weekend celebrations, inviting local restaurants, cafés and culinary artisans to showcase two ingredients deeply connected to the region: wild rice and corn.
The Wild Rice & Corn Culinary Competition, presented by the McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Wild Rice Days and the McGregor Lions Corn Feed, will give participating establishments an opportunity to create a signature dish featuring wild rice, corn or both. The inaugural competition is designed to celebrate McGregor’s agricultural heritage while giving residents and visitors another reason to explore the community’s local dining scene during the week leading into Wild Rice Days.
“This cornerstone event of our community heritage, this competition serves as a prestigious platform for local restaurants, cafes, and culinary artisans to demonstrate their excellence,” explained Wild Rice Days event coordinators Jon and Erin Napoli. “We invite our local establishments to celebrate our region’s rich agricultural legacy by featuring two of our most iconic local ingredients: wild rice and corn.”
Participating chefs will be challenged to develop a dish that highlights the distinctive flavors of wild rice and/or corn. Entries may be submitted in one of three categories: Appetizer/Small Plate, Entrée/Main Course or Dessert. Each establishment may submit one official entry.
The competition will unfold during the week immediately preceding Wild Rice Days. From Sunday, Aug. 30, through Saturday, Sept. 5, participating establishments must feature their competition dish for sale at their physical location. Restaurants and other culinary businesses will set their own standard menu prices for the featured dishes.
The public will play a central role in determining the winner. Diners can sample the competing creations throughout the promotional week and cast their official votes online at mnwonders.com. The establishment receiving the highest number of verified public votes will be named the competition champion.
The winner will be recognized during a special presentation at Wild Rice Days on Saturday, Sept. 5.
The competition also complements another Labor Day weekend tradition in McGregor: the McGregor Lions Corn Feed, bringing together two celebrations centered on community, food and local agricultural traditions.
For participating establishments, the first deadline is Saturday, Aug. 29. Entries must be submitted to mcgregorchamberevents@gmail.com and include the restaurant or business name and contact information, the official dish name, the selected course category, a detailed menu description explaining the use of wild rice and/or corn, and at least one high-resolution photograph of the plated dish.
The Chamber is encouraging local food businesses to take part and help make the new competition a signature component of McGregor’s Wild Rice Days celebration. “This initiative offers an unparalleled opportunity to provide both residents and visitors with an authentic taste of McGregor’s culinary distinction,” the Napolis said.
With Wild Rice Days and the McGregor Lions Corn Feed both helping anchor the Labor Day weekend, the new culinary competition offers yet another way for the community to celebrate local traditions—one plate at a time.
For competition information, promotional materials or technical questions, contact the McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce at mcgregorchamberevents@gmail.com.