Behind the scenes, culinary creations will be judged by a panel of local food critics and other celebrity judges. Judges for 2011 include:
Nancy Anderson
Nicole Barley | WHIRL magazine
Chris Fennimore | Producer/Host QED Cooks
Christina French | Publisher, TABLE Magazine
John Gruver | Executive Chef of Giant Eagle Market District
Ann Haigh | FANFARE and Co-host of "On the Menu," (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Peter Haigh | Co-Host of "On the Menu"
Bruce May | Wine & Spirit Consultant
Doug Oster | Post-Gazette Garden Columnist and author of Tomatoes Garlic Basil
Marlene Parrish | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Food Writer
Sally Quinn | Deputy Managing Editor for Features, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Rick Sebak | WQED
Margi Shrum | Assistant Metro Editor/Neighborhoods,
   Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Chef Jeff Ward | Pennsylvania Culinary Institute
Chef Ray Wesolowski | Pennsylvania Culinary Institute