We were able to gather some of Charleston’s most prestigious and talented top chefs; Chef Jeremiah Bacon, Chef Sean Brock (James Beard semi-finalist), Chef Craig Deihl (James Beard semi-finalist), Chef Frank Lee, Chef Nathan Thurston, & Chef Nate Whiting; mix in some local celebrities acting as the judging panel; Lou Hammond (Hammond & Associates), Rick Jerue (Executive Director of the Art Institute), Dr. Ann Kulze (physician & author), Chris Nielsen (cardiologist), Darcy Shankland (Editor in Chief of Charleston Magazine), Teresa Taylor (Associate Editor of Post & Courier), Paul Wieters (Wellness Coordinator, The City of Charleston), & David Woods (Chef, Whole Foods). Add the Art Institute of Charleston’s Culinary Program’s incredible chef liason, Chris Stallard, and marketing director, Paige Chrone; blend in Charleston’s four hospital system’s dietary staff, and voila! You have a chefs challenge that creates incredibly delicious and heart healthy entrees based on The American Heart Association’s dietary guidelines.

And the winner is…stay tuned for Mayor Joseph P. Riley to announce the winner at the 2010 BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival on Friday, March 5 at 10:45. Videos, photos, and You-Tubing posted later this week.

Heavenly & Healthy in the Holy City was inspired by Neita Wiese as part of her ongoing heart health advocacy. Neita is a passionate volunteer and frequent speaker for organizations dedicated to fighting heart disease. In 2009, she was selected by the Mayo clinic to participate in it’s Science and Leadership Symposium in Rochester, MN, and to be a WomenHeart Champion providing education and support for South Carolina Women. Neita was the local Charleston Go Red For Women spokesperson in 2009-2010, and featured as the American Heart Association’s June Story of Hope.

Heavenly and Healthy in the Holy City (HHH) is a Charleston, SC area initiative designed to curtail the increasing risk of cardiovascular related illnesses in the Charleston area. South Carolina ranks 16th is the nation for cardiovascular disease, 8th for stroke, as well as experiencing a significant and growing childhood obesity problem.

Check out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heavenly-Healthy-in-the-Holy-City/ and Neita’s Website at http://www.neitasvinaigrettes.com/.

-NeitasVinaigrettes.com

-From Neitasvinaigrettes.com