Celebrating a decade of challenging chefs to get creative with California Dates, The Perfect Date Chef Challenge showcases nine previous top winners on Sunday, April 11 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino's Special Events Center.

After professional judging,  their creations will be available for the public to taste and vote for People's Choice award in the center's ballroom from 2 to 4:30 p.m.  Tickets are $35 per person, available at the door the day of the event.   Advance tickets are also available at Shields Date Garden, Highway 111 at Jefferson in Indio.  Call (760) 347-4510 for information.

 This one-of-a-kind culinary event features dishes using California dates in appetizer, entree and dessert categories.  Rather than a blind taste judging as in the past, this year nine contenders will compete in a head-to-head timed, live challenge before culinary experts and food writers in the kitchen of the Special Events Center.

 Defending their titles in the Appetizer division will be Eric Wadlund, executive chef/operations director at Spencer's Restaurant, Palm Springs, with his Scallops with Date Tapioca and Date Reduction.  Wadlund won First Place Appetizer in 2003, 2004, 2006 and was Chef Spokesman in 2005.

Greg Wiener, now executive chef at The Boulders Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona, presents his Fire and Ice Salad.  Wiener was a winner in 2006 and multiple finalist while at Desert Springs JW Marriott, Palm Desert and The Boulders Resort and Spa.

 Mark Sickenberger, executive chef at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, will prepare Beef Tenderloin with Dates, Bleu Cheese and Bacon.  Sickenberger won Best of Show, 2006 and People's Choice 2006 & 2007 in the appetizer category.

 Contenders in the entree category are Chef Kamekona, of Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa, creating a dish called Roasted Date BBQ Rib Eye, Sweet Potato Date and Shredded BBQ Beef Tamale.   Another multiple award winner, Kamekona won Best of Show in 2005, First Place Entree  2008, and People's Choice 2005, 2008 and 2009.

William Withrow, executive sous chef at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, will be creating Date Stuffed Pork Medallions, Portobello -Salsify Napoleon, Madeira-Pistachio Jus. Withrow won Best of Show in 2003 and has been a multiple time finalist.

 Executive Chef Oliver Wolf of Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort and Spa, Palm Desert, has entered his Date Stuffed Turkey Roulade Date Bread Dumpling, Morrel Cream Sauce.  Wolf won First Place Entree in 2009, and represents a number of Desert Springs JW Marriott chefs who have competed over the years.

Dessert competitors are Yasmin Martin, pastry chef at The Vintage Club, Indian Wells, who offers her Halawi Date & Lemon Fruit Tart with Halawi Date Sorbet.  Martin won First Place Dessert in 2004 and Best of Show, 2009.

Tiburcio Neri, senior pastry chef  at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, is creating a Date Light Cake with Date Compote and Tulip Cookie.  Chef Neri won First Place Dessert in 2002, 2003, 2009.

Jerome Diop, now pastry chef at Andalusia Country Club, La Quinta, will present Coachella Date Chocolate Trio.  Chef Diop has been a finalist almost every year since the competition began and won First Place Dessert in 2006 and 2007

In addition to first place prizes, the chefs will be contending for Best of Show and a $500 Nutrition bonus.  Best of show is a $2,000 prize.

Tickets sales go completely for scholarships to local students pursuing the hospitality and culinary arts professions, through the California Women for Agriculture.  Past scholarship recipients have been attending the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York;  Johnson and Wales, Denver, Colo.; Culinary programs at The Art Institute at San Bernardino and San Diego campuses; College of the Desert, Palm Desert,  and other qualified schools.

Call (760) 347-4510 or visit online at www.DatesAreGreat.com for a look at previous winners' recipes.