The Florida Keys and Key West Cook-Off and Florida Keys Cocktail Competition will bring a touch and taste of the Keys to Philadelphia on Monday, March 6th. Walnut Hill College will serve as the venue for a special cook-off that will feature 24 local food and travel influencers and writers. Instead of snapping, tweeting and blogging they will get on the other side of the stove and cook up two Florida Keys dishes with direction from Chef Bobby Stoky. In conjunction with the cook-off, four Philadelphia bartenders will shake and stir up Florida Keys-inspired cocktails. A winner from each competition wins a trip to the Florida Keys and Key West.

Walnut Hill College is the gracious host for the night and their students (and our city's future restaurant stars and chefs) are prepping and creating a fantastic menu of Keys inspired dishes. The Florida Keys is sending up Chef Bobby Stoky from the Florida Keys - a notable chef, cookbook author and owner of several Upper Keys restaurants- is coming up as a special partnership to work with the students and be a guest judge for the cook-off. Local son Pat Croce, who has several spots in the Key West, is judging a special Florida Keys Cocktail Competition. The idea is to give a hard-working, over-worked, talented bartender a chance to get away "from it all."

Walnut Hill College is the gracious host for the night and their students (and our city's future restaurant stars and chefs) are prepping and creating a fantastic menu of Keys inspired dishes. The Florida Keys is sending up Chef Bobby Stoky from the Keys - a notable chef and booth author - is coming up as a special partnership to work with the students and be a guest judge for the cook-off. Local son Pat Croce, who has several spots in the Florida Keys, is judging a special Florida Keys Cocktail Competition. The idea is to give a hard-working, over-worked, talented bartender a chance to get away "from it all."

Here's the scoop on this tasty night:

WHAT'S COOKING?

They reviewed, posted, snapped, tweeted and blogged about their favorite restaurants and dishes. Now the tables will turn as 24 of the region's food and travel influences/writers will get behind the stove and cook-off. One of them will win a trip to the Florida Keys and Key West. Chef Bobby Stoky will lead them in demos and will make their own version of a Key Lime Pie and a surprise keys seafood dish.

Nicole Michalik, I Heart Radio
Mina Say What, Power 99
Marilyn Russell, WOGL
Marisa Magnatta, WMMR
Alex Holley, FOX-29
Jenny DeHuff, PhillyVoice
Ernest Owens, Philadelphia Magazine
LeAnne Lindsay, Tinsel and Tine
Roberta Pipito, Homemade Delish
Jersey Girl Cooks, Lisa Grant
Kass Dahlquist, Philly Food Girl
Rachee Fagg, Say It Rachee
Jordan Price, Food Sweat Beers
Linda Arceo, Giggles Gobbles Gulps
Sandy Zimmerman, Philly Bite Mag
Sarah Maiellano, Eater, Thrillist, USA Today, Freelancer
Colleen Kennedy, Souffle Bombay
Emily Rush, Penn Appetite
Sarah Ricks, Very Hungry Traveler
Iris McCarthy, The Palate Princess
Denine Gorniak, The Bicycle Chef
Linda Vertlieb, Frugal Philly Mom
Emily Tharp, Her Philly
Steve McCann, Philly Gay Calendar

SHAKIN' AND STIRRED

As part of the Florida Keys and Key West Cook-Off at Walnut Hill College they are giving a bartender a chance to win a vacation! They shake and stir. They listen to your problems. They know your every need. Four of Philly's most talented and over-worked bartenders are getting a chance to get away from it all for a two night three day trip to the Florida Keys. Participants are from the just-opened Dim Sum House in University City, South Street Headhouse's Whetstone Tavern, and Rittenhouse Row's Fine Palate and Vesper. Cast your vote for your favorite Keys-inspired cocktail below. The public will cast their advance vote online, guests at the event will cast a vote and then our favorite son Pat Croce (who owns several bars in Key West!) will also judge. Pat is even putting the winning cocktail on his menu for a weekend in honor of the winning bartender.

While tickets for the event are sold out, you can cast your vote and help Pat Croce pick the cocktail winner. Which is your favorite Florida Keys inspired cocktail? Click the photo of your favorite below to go to Facebook - and "like" your favorite! Votes will be combined with voting at the event - and Pat Croce will help pick the winner. He will put the winning cocktail on his menu during the winner's stay in the Florida Keys.

Get thirsty with us.. vote today today! Thank you Half Shell Raw Bar for help hosting the contest.