Reno Chef Clint Jolly Shines in Food Network’s Chopped: Impossible Restaurant Challenge

HOUSTON, Feb. 26, 2016 -- Clint Jolly of Great Thyme Catering in Reno, Nev., is the winner of the Sysco-sponsored Chopped: Impossible Restaurant Challenge and $10,000. He was among four finalists selected from nearly 200 entries in a contest conducted simultaneous to the launch of the four-episode Food Network television series, Chopped: Impossible, which premiered Oct. 22-Nov. 12, 2015.

Other finalists included Shane Brassel, executive chef at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio; Brother Luck, owner and chef of Brother Luck Eats in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Emilio Marentes, chef at the Happy Monk in San Antonio, Texas. All were recently flown to New York City to compete in the Chopped-style cooking competition to determine the $10,000 grand prize winner. The winner was determined by a panel of judges comprising Food Network star and celebrity Chef Robert Irvine, Sysco Corporate Chef Neil Doherty and Sysco Chief Marketing Officer Bill Goetz.

“I’m very excited to represent Reno,” said Chef Jolly. “This whole process has been amazing and fun.”

During the showdown, the chefs’ plates were judged on taste, presentation and creative use of the mystery ingredients: Sysco’s White Marble Farms pork belly, turnips, ras el hanout (a North African spice blend) and cherry pie filling.

“Each of the four chefs used an incredible amount of creativity to make dishes that were both interesting and great tasting,” said Chef Irvine. “This contest proved to be a great way for them – and all others who didn’t make the final four – to display their talents while using a wide variety of ingredients.”

Chef Jolly served up a tasty dish of Turkish pork kebabs to earn the contest’s top spot. He ground the pork belly for easier cooking, seasoned it with the spice mix, and then nestled it in a turnip and potato hash. He used the pie filling to prepare an agrodolce (sweet and sour) style sauce that was spooned atop the dish and presented in a cast-iron pan. Check out what Chef Jolly and the other master chefs created with these exciting ingredients in a video on www.syscopantry.com.

“By participating in this challenge and integrating Sysco as the pantry provider in the full season of Chopped: Impossible, we’ve succeeded in sharing our innovative products in a new and exciting format,” Goetz said. “These activities also demonstrate Sysco’s commitment to having the necessary ingredients to be our customers’ most valued and trusted business partner.”

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 196 distribution facilities serving approximately 425,000 customers. For Fiscal Year 2015 that ended June 27, 2015, the company generated sales of more than $48 billion. For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco. Important news regarding Sysco is available at www.sysco.com/investors.  You can follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock and download the Sysco IR App, available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Market. Investors are encouraged to read our news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

For more information:
Charley Wilson
Vice President, Communications
T: 281-584-2423