A Decade of Diamond Chef is in the books and history was made last Thursday night as Chef Mary Beth Ringgold was named the first-ever female chef to be named champion in the history of Diamond Chef Arkansas. She went head-to-head in the final round against Chef Jimmy Carter and 2016 champion Donnie Ferneau after they "fished" out their secret ingredients from the watery tanks that held a school of large-mouth bass.

The final scores were less than two points apart between Chefs Ferneau and Ringgold. However, Ringgold reigned supreme over the field of other talented chefs that included Casey Copeland of The Avenue, Scott Rains of Table 28, Patrick Buchanan of YaYa’s Euro Bistro, Brandon Douglas of Green Leaf Grill and Jimmy Carter, recently named executive chef at Cajun’s Wharf.  Ringgold is a restaurateur and entrepreneur with a long history of success in central Arkansas, with her restaurants Capers, Copper Grill and Cajun’s Wharf.

Chef Ringgold with her two sous chefs, Franco Reta and King Joseph, a UA-PTC culinary student, served up the winning dish that Ringgold described as, “fresh water bass served over a mélange of wild mushrooms and spinach, nested over roasted vegetable couscous on a single leaf of swiss chard, ladled with a reduction of fish stock, white wine and parmesan and dotted with white truffle oil, garnished with crispy, sweet potato spirals and a shaving of fresh truffle.”

The chefs' culinary creations were judged on plate presentations, creativity and taste. Judges included Chef Paul Bash, founding president of the American Culinary Federation Central Arkansas Chapter; Chef Kyle Richardson, national secretary of the American Culinary Federation, Chef Brian Hardy, Central Region Vice President of the American Culinary Federation and Chef André Poirot, Executive Chef featured on the Discovery Channel, Crown Plaza and 201 Café in Arkansas.

More than 600 attended the event at UA-PTC Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute. They were treated to heavy hors d’oeuvres, signature chef cocktails, a live and silent auction, and a new kid’s cupcake decorating competition, Diamond in the Rough, won by Nathan Juhl.

More than $110,000 was raised overall for the event that will be used through the UA-PTC Foundation to support the students and programs of the college.