Phillip Platoni Takes Title in Record-Breaking CARVED

October 30, 2015

It was Piedmont Culinary Guild’s most successful CARVED every yet!

Over 200 people headed out to Free Range Brewing in NoDa on Sunday. October 25 to see culinary craftspeople throughout the region cut, gouge, sculpt, and otherwise create an amazing gallery of carved pumpkins. But in the end, it was Phillip Platoni of Southminster who took the CARVED 2015 custom leather knife roll as the winner .. narrowly beating our two-time champion Michael Rayfield of The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge.

In addition, a vivid red-painted pumpkin created by one of the junior carvers .. took home the whopping bucket of treats as the Kids Competition winner.

Attendees painted sugar skulls, were treated to ice cream churned by tractor engine, apple cider from a hand press, and popcorn from the cob – not to mention the many craft beers Free Range had on hand.

In the silent auction, winners took home Hornets tickets, concert tickets, fine wines, spa treatments, certificates for artisan bread, and more. Chef Jamie Barnes of What The Fries food truck satisfied CARVED revelers’ appetites.

Throughout it all, the only think more prevalent than the pumpkins on the premises, were the smiles on everyone’s faces.