KEARNEY — The second annual Tournament of Taste is being hosted by Central Nebraska Today.com after a successful inaugural event held in 2024.
The sponsors of the event this year are Advance Services, Midwest Restaurant Supply & Kitchen Superstore, Kearney Pediatric Dentistry, Dowhy Towning and Recovery, Sayler Screenprinting and Auto Central Inc.
The online nomination process will take place between Thursday, Feb. 10 and Feb. 27. The process will be online.
Restaurants nominated must be locally based in central Nebraska with only up to two locations.
The bracket will be announced on Monday, March 3, with 64 total restaurants ready to compete.
The first round will take place March 5 through March 14 with four new match-ups each day, going from 64 to 32. The second round will take place March 18 through March 21 with four new match ups each day, with the field going from 32 to 16.
The “Savory 16” round will run March 25 through March 28 with two match ups each day, with the field being lowered to eight. The “Eat 8” will take place on April 1 and April 2 to get down to the last four.
The “Final Fork” will take place on Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4, with one match up each day to see who gets to the final round.
“The Chompionship” occurs on Monday, April 7 where central Nebraska’s two final restaurants go head-to-head to see which one is voted the best.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 8.
During the Tournament of Taste, each time someone would vote on their picks for the daily matchups, it was considered an entry into the drawing at the end for one of the Final Fork restaurant gift cards. As a thank you for participating in the contest and helping us celebrate these small businesses, we want to get you IN to those places to enjoy their menu.
Last year,the 2024 “Chompion” was Skyline Café in St. Paul with the others in the “Final Fork” being Prairie Creek Vineyard and Winery of Central City, Dick’s Place of Lawrence and The Plainsman Steakhouse of Juniata.
