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Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, one of Italy’s leading family-owned wine companies, has chosen Thomas Bohne of Boulder, Colo., as the winner of the 2010 “Tuscany To You” recipe contest.

Bohne’s recipe — Lobster, Shrimp with Vanilla Champagne Cream Sauce — was selected from hundreds of entries from American home cooks vying for the ultimate epicurean reward: a private dinner for four prepared in the winner’s home by renowned Italian chef Donatella Zampoli.

Following the success of the inaugural 2009 contest, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi once again invited aspiring chefs and home cooks to submit their favorite Italian recipes via the Tuscany Tonight website (www.tuscanytonight.com). Michelin-rated Chef Donatella Zampoli, who has worked with the Frescobaldi family and estates for many years, was tasked with evaluating the recipes and selecting the winning recipe. The submissions were judged according to a host of criteria including simplicity, depth of flavor, and originality.

"The winning recipe was certainly one of the most original I have tasted,” states Chef Zampoli. “The use of vanilla and champagne was something new and different. Best of all, I feel it is something people will be able to easily recreate at home."

After 11 years in the Army, which included tours in Iraq and Kosovo, Bohne was discharged from the U.S. Army and decided to follow his passion for food. Using the G.I. Bill, Bohne enrolled in the culinary arts program at Johnson & Wales University.
"I grew up in the Philadelphia area and developed an early appreciation for food from the strong Italian influence on food in the area, Bohne says. “For my recipe submission, I wanted to create something that was simple to make while also elevating the quality and flavor profile.”

Other winning recipes are available on the Tuscany Tonight website. Created by the Frescobaldi family, winemakers in Tuscany for more than 700 years and 33 generations, the site offers recipes, wine and food pairings, and party planning tips as well as educational information on Italian wine.

Source: Frescobaldi