Westlake Village-based Dole Food Company announced the winner of its annual grilling competition, the Dole California Cook-Off. The four-hour cooking event was held on June 24 at The Grove in Los Angeles, where five finalists went head-to-head for the grand prize. Participants were challenged to create a dish using at least one Dole product, up to seven additional ingredients, and a gas grill to prep, cook and plate their final items. Recipes were judged on their best use of Dole products, creativity, flavor and taste. The winner of the $10,000 grand prize was Jeanette Nelson from West Virginia, whose “Taste of Dole Island Pork Sliders with Pineapple Jicama Salsa” won the competition. “This competition has been on my bucket list, and to have my recipe selected by Dole out of the hundreds of entries from across the nation is such an honor,” said Nelson. “I still can’t believe I won.” Angela Melero
