LEWISTON — To benefit St. Mary’s Nutrition Center of Lewiston, Double Z Land & Livestock will hold Central Maine’s first-ever Meatball Challenge to determine the region’s best recipe. Amateur chefs will compete for the title of Central Maine’s Best Meatball, a $100 cash prize, a $50 Double Z gift certificate and a spot as the featured meatball on the March 18 menu of DaVinci’s Italian Eatery in Lewiston.

The competition will take place on Sunday, March 8. Setup for contestants will be at 11 a.m. Judging will be done by attendees from noon to 2 p.m. The winner will be announced internally immediately following the challenge, and publicly announced on National Meatball Day, Monday, March 9.

It will be at St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, 208 Bates St.

The contest is open to amateur chefs who think they have the best meatballs around. A panel will choose up to seven chefs to compete. Because the Nutrition Center works hard to inspire youth in their cooking program, they will field three teams in addition who will be mentored in the production of their meatball. This year’s mentors are Chef Anthony Scherrer of Martindale Country Club, Chef Jeanne Krull of Mainely Meatballs and Executive Chef Owen Keene of Bates College.

To enter, send a description of your meatball and recipe to [email protected]. Deadline for recipe submissions is noon Monday, March 2. Contestants selected to cook will be notified by 6 p.m. on March 2. Once selected, an entry fee of $25 will be required to participate.

Meatballs must be homemade and recipes original. Contestants should bring 40 meatballs, cooked and ready-to-eat, to the Nutrition Center on Sunday at 11 a.m. Warming trays will be provided. Attendees paying the $5 cover charge will select the winning meatball based on taste, creativity and presentation. All proceeds will benefit St. Mary’s Nutrition Center.

For more contest details, contact Chris Abbruzzese via email at [email protected] or call 207-225-3579.

The St. Mary’s Nutrition Center promotes community health through organizing, advocacy and education. The NC is home to a food pantry, cooking and nutrition education programs, job training for teens, year-round farmers’ markets and the Lots to Gardens program, which uses 12 urban community gardens in downtown Lewiston to create access to local food, empower youth and build community.

Double Z Land and Livestock is owned and operated by the Abbruzzese family in the highlands of Turner. Double Z raises all natural grass-fed beef and lamb.