The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, recognized top culinary talent at the 2026 NCRLA Chef Showdown, held in Durham, North Carolina. The tenth season of the competition brought together chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distilleries to compete for prestigious titles, including Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Mixologist & Distillery of the Year, and Best Mocktail of the Year. The Dairy Alliance also presented its Dairy Does More Awards to those who most creatively incorporated local dairy into their entries.
The 2026 Dairy Does More Award winners were Chef Matt Hannon for Best Savory Dish, Pastry Chef Makala Beaver for Best Dessert, Mixologist Zach Benson for Best Cocktail, and Mixologist Ashley Sarkis for Best Mocktail. These awards highlight the versatility of North Carolina dairy, showing how it can enhance flavors and textures across a wide range of culinary creations.
Chef Matt Hannon of Ashten's in Southern Pines earned Best Savory Dish for his lamb barbacoa with summer bean salad, whipped burrata, and purple honey. The whipped burrata added a rich, creamy element that complemented the bold flavors of the lamb and seasonal ingredients, demonstrating dairy's ability to elevate savory dishes.
Pastry Chef Makala Beaver of King Neptune in Wrightsville Beach won Best Dessert for her Southern-inspired tiramisu, featuring rum-soaked cornmeal ladyfingers, peach butter, and sorghum mascarpone. The mascarpone brought creamy richness to the dessert while helping Beaver put a distinctly Southern spin on a classic Italian favorite. Her emotional acceptance speech made the win a memorable moment of the evening.
Mixologist Zach Benson of Outer Banks Distilling in Manteo earned Best Cocktail for his Dairy Does More creation, which showcased how dairy can extend beyond traditional culinary applications into creative beverage development. His recognition highlighted the role dairy can play in creating distinctive flavors and textures in craft cocktails. Benson's cocktail was also named the 2026 People's Choice Favorite alongside Outer Banks Distilling.
Mixologist Ashley Sarkis of Yunta Nikkei in Charlotte earned Best Mocktail for Sweet Carolina, incorporating cream from Wholesome Country Creamery into a cardamom-sugar whipped cream topping. The use of dairy added texture, flavor, and visual appeal to the spirit-free beverage, showcasing an unexpected way to incorporate North Carolina dairy into a crafted drink. Sarkis' Dairy Does More Spirit-Free Cocktail also helped her clinch the 2026 NCRLA Mixologist of the Year Championship.
The awards were presented during the Chef Showdown Grand Finale at Bay 7 in Durham, where Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance, attended to present the awards and celebrate the four culinary professionals. The recognition underscores how dairy can bring versatility and creativity to everything from savory dishes and desserts to cocktails and mocktails.
Together, this year's winners demonstrated that dairy does more, serving as an inspiration for culinary professionals to experiment with flavor, texture, and presentation while showcasing the quality and versatility of North Carolina dairy. A complete list of finalists and their competition dishes, desserts, and drinks is available at NCChefShowdown.com. To learn more about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com or follow @TheDairyAlliance on Facebook or Instagram.
