Kitchen Roselli is an Italian restaurant located in the historic Davis Brothers Store on Main Street in East Bend and it is taking part in a special contest.

"We were truly honored to be included in this year's selected finalists and to be among the wonderful restaurants in North Carolina," they said.

The restaurant opened in August 2006 and is operated by chefs and owners David and Laura Roselli.

Motivated by the mission of the program and the spirit and creativity of past chef finalists, the couple decided to enter a statewide competition, and they have been picked as finalists in the Best Dish in N.C. Restaurant Competition.

This competition started in 2006 to bring awareness to the numerous restaurants and chefs who feature local cuisine on the menu.

The competition is open to any restaurant or restaurant group doing business in North Carolina, and it is the official restaurant contest of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and its Goodness Grows in North Carolina marketing program.

The judges picked this restaurant's four-course menu which will be offered June 3 to June 26.

The menu is inspired by N.C. ingredients, family memories and Italian traditions.

There is the "Our Cheery Anniversary Salad," a whimsical featured salad.

"It is inpired by a wonderful garden salad we had on our honeymoon in Charleston, S.C., but we give it a twist by adding North Carolina goat blue cheese and by infusing Cheerwine with a balsamic herbed vinigrette," they said.

The kitchen's web site is at www.kitchenroselli.com on the web. Local foods came from local destinations.

During the competition they are featuring Herbed Cheese Ball with Laura's Focaccia, Gilda's Farm to Table Agnolotti and Yadkin Valley Vineyard Sorbet.

Cheerwine is made in Salisbury. Apple Brandy Beef is made in North Wilkesboro. Bloomtown Acres Farm is in East Bend, and Boonville Mill flour is in Boonville.

Braxton Pecan Co. is in Princeton, and Crump's Orchard & Veggies Farm is in Yadkin County.

Daddy's Girl Dairy is in Hamptonville, and Green Mesa Blueberry Farm is in Boonville. Matthews Family Farm is in East Bend, Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, Sleepy Goat Farm in Pelham and Yadkinville Farmers Market in Yadkinville.