Summer 2010: Fair Oaks, California — In the first California Wild Rice Rumble, a personal chef from Joshua Tree, California, knocked out the competition with her California Wild Rice Confetti Shrimp Salad.

Sponsored by theCalifornia Wild Rice Advisory Board, the contest targeted California and Nevada culinary professionals. The grand-prize went to Cheri Holmgren, of Homegrown Catering. Her Confetti Shrimp Salad was chosen from the top recipes in each of three recipe categories: starters, salads and sides. The winner in each category received a cash prize, with Holmgren earning an additional award for the grand prize. All contest winners also received a basket of California wild rice and wild rice products.

Holmgren is a caterer and personal chef, with a love for chainsaw sculpting.

When it comes to California wild rice, Holmgren says she loves it for its versatility, rich color and for the nutritional value it provides as a whole grain food.

Other top awards went to Michael Compean, of the Culver Hotel, Culver City, California, for the best starter recipe, California Wild Rice Galettes with Smoked Salmon and Caper Tartar Sauce, and to Mark LoRusso, of Botero Steak in Las Vegas, for the best side dish – Manchego and California Wild Rice Arancini with Avocado.

In addition to the top recipes, the California Wild Rice Advisory Board awarded a prize for best photo of a wild rice dish. That honor went to blogger Roland Denzel from Torrance, California. Denzel took the first-place prize for a shot of his California Wild Rice Tamales recipe and second place for his photo of California Wild Rice and Salmon Cream Cheese Roll.

The judging for the contest was held at California State University, Fresno, under the direction of Klaus Tenbergen, Culinology program director and assistant professor. Tenbergen's Culinology students prepared each entry according to recipe instructions.

For a complete list of winning recipes and photos click here