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Culinary Competition Featuring Top Local Chefs Raises Money for Three Coachella Valley Non-profit Organizations LA QUINTA, Calif., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The newly opened La Quinta Henry's Farmers Market, an extraordinary fresh foods grocery store and leading resource for produce and natural foods, today announced it will donate $10,000 to three Coachella Valley non-profit organizations. The Find Food Bank, the Desert Cancer Foundation and the La Quinta Arts Foundation will each receive a portion of this donation from Henry's as part of their involvement with the "Fresh Chef Showdown," a friendly culinary competition, which took place during Henry's Grand Opening Block Party on Nov. 7. During the "Fresh Chef Showdown," three highly acclaimed local chefs, Ulrich Ludwig of Uli's Bistro, Steve Quinones of Hog's Breath Inn and Chris Swenson of Twenty 6 prepared three gourmet dishes using Henry's grass-fed Australian beef and organic apples. At the end of the competition, the chefs' creations were rated by local food writers on taste, flavor, creativity, presentation and restaurant worthiness. Chef Chris Swenson took home first place in the "Fresh Chef Showdown" for his morel mushroom side dish, apple mojito cocktail and succulent upside down calvados apple cake. Chef Swenson chose the La Quinta Arts Foundation as his charity partner and this organization will receive $5,000 from Henry's for the chef's top prize. The La Quinta Arts Foundation provides cultural, education and personal growth outreach programs to the citizens of the Coachella Valley. Chef Ulrich Ludwig and Chef Steve Quinones also impressed the judges with their unique culinary creations made from ingredients from Henry's Farmers Market. Chef Ludwig partnered with The Desert Cancer Foundation and the Foundation will receive a $2,500 donation from this event. The Desert Cancer Foundation assists cancer patients who lack insurance or sufficient funds to pay for their medical care. Chef Quinones' charity, the Find Food Bank, will also receive $2,500 as part of his participation in the "Fresh Chef Showdown." The Find Food Bank provides food to Coachella Valley residents and works towards long-term solutions to end hunger and poverty in the community. The judging panel of the "Henry's Fresh Chef Showdown" included: Leanna Bonamici, vice president and producer of Casablanca Studios and creator of "Two Forks Up"; Maggie Downs, features and restaurant writer for The Desert Sun; Janet Newcomb, creator, producer and host of "Chowhound TV"; and Judith Salkin, assistant editor, food and restaurant writer for The Desert Post Weekly. About Henry's The roots of Henry's Farmers Market were established in 1943 when the Boney Family bought a truckload of peaches and sold them on a street corner in San Diego. In 1999, Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:OATS) acquired Henry's Farmers Market from the Boney Family and today continues their tradition of exceptional quality, value and service. The Henry's family includes 30 stores in Southern California and Arizona. DATASOURCE: Wild Oats Markets, Inc. CONTACT: Sonja Tuitele of Henry's Farmers Market, +1-720-562-4984 Web site: http://www.wildoats.com/

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