Contact:
Anne Hart, Owner & Executive Chef
Provence Market Café
Phone: 304-848-0911
Fax: 304-848-0910
provencemkt@aol.com
www.provencemarketcafe.com

Provence Market Café Sets New Standard “Again” in WV Dining

Bridgeport, WV, February 5, 2007

Provence Market Café proudly announces the recent awards received by participating in the Second Annual Cast Iron Cook-off Competition and Culinary Weekend held at the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV, January 26-27, 2007.

The Cast Iron Cook-off was coordinated by the “Collaborative of the 21st Century Appalachia” a planning committee of chefs, tourism leaders, and West Virginia’s Department of Agriculture to promote West Virginia’s farmers in its “earth to table movement”. Seven of West Virginia’s top chefs were invited to participate and compete for awards in a variety of subjective and score related categories. All teams were to be comprised of chef, one assisting food professional and eight non food professionals.

Accompanied by Michael Brown, Penny Neeley, Stacey Ryan, Kathy Stump, Debbie Workman, Lisa Dyer Thrush, Carla Engle, DeeDee Hatcher, and Betsy Spellman, Anne Hart’s Team Provence developed a menu utilizing traditional West Virginia products such as squirrel, frog’s legs, duck, grits, and moonshine with a contemporary twist to capture - for the second year in a row - Overall Grand Champion. Team Provence also won for “Best Creative Recipe”.

BIO:

A native of Clarksburg and currently a Bridgeport resident, Anne has held restaurant management and district management positions and has opened twelve restaurants in fine dining and casual theme in Atlanta, Rochester New York, Boston, and Washington, DC during the 20 years prior to opening Provence Market Café in Bridgeport West Virginia in May 2002. As Owner/Executive Chef, Anne has created a unique menu influenced by the cuisine, ingredients, and flavors of Provence and the Mediterranean. The adjacent Marketplace features unique wines, cheeses and specialty food items from around the world. The addition of Provence Market’s Espresso Bar in July of 2004 completed the European experience. Provence Market now has its own line of products, featuring Provence Market Café’s Olive Tapenade and Champagne Vinaigrette.

Provence Market has achieved the “Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator, one of only ten restaurants honored for its wine list and wine program in the state of West Virginia, “New Business of the Year 2003” by the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. Team Provence was named the “Best of Show”, “Best Traditional Entrée”, “Best Healthy Entrée”, “Best Traditional Appetizer”, and “Best Healthy Appetizer” at the 2006 Cast Iron Cook Off held at the Stonewall Resort. Team Provence just recently won Grand Champion and Best Creative Recipe at the 2007 Cast Iron Cook Off. Provence Market has been invited to be a participant in “Chefs Garden Food and Wine Celebration 2007” at The Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan, Ohio. This fund raiser, featuring world-renowned chefs supports Veggie U, a non-profit organization teaching fourth graders in 21 states the importance of healthy eating.

The West Virginia Executive Magazine selected Anne as a 2002 Young Gun. Anne was selected as “Citizen of the Month” April 2007 by the Shinnston News. She is also a member of the “Women Chefs and Restaurateurs” a national organization that promotes the advancement of women in the restaurant industry. Active in the community, Anne was the 2006 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as Chairman of its Marketing Committee. A past President of the Board of Directors of the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Center, she continues to serve on the Board.

Education: BA in Biology West Virginia University.

Read 2006 Cast Iron Coof-off Press Release