Live Oak’s Rebecca Thomas from the Dixie Grill - chosen finalist in General Mills recipe contest

Rebecca Thomas holding her award winning Strawberry Cream Biscuit Bites. -Photo: Submitted

By Tami Stevenson

Rebecca Thomas from the family owned restaurant, The Dixie Grill, in Live Oak, was chosen as one of four finalists across the nation for creating a new recipe for General Mills. She calls it Strawberry Cream Biscuit Bites. She won $5,000 for becoming a finalist and now she is in the running for the Grand-Prize of $20,000, competing with three other national finalists.

Thomas said she began working on the recipe in February, when they opened the contest, following the guidelines General Mills provided.

“We had to use their biscuits and then I worked with it. They wanted the ingredients to be things that people would normally have in their kitchen, not pricey and easy to make.” She added, “I had strawberries and went with that.”

On the day we spoke with Thomas, she said the recipe was not on the menu, but they were doing sample sessions to get customer’s feedback and may be adding it on the menu shortly.

In order for them to win, they must receive the most public votes out of the three other finalists. General Mills is encouraging everyone to visit their website and vote. It will determine the Grand-Prize Winner who will receive $20,000 for their biscuit creation.

According to a release, General Mills Foodservice, which partners with restaurants to provide back-of-house products, recipe inspiration and culinary support, launched The Biskies Recipe Contest in 2023 to celebrate biscuits in all their flavors and forms.

“The 2024 finalists truly showcase how biscuits play a starring role on menus,” said Chef Kevin Relf, a member of The Chefs of the Mills who helped judge this year’s biscuit entries. “We were wowed by their creativity and use of Pillsbury biscuits to create unique menu items that shine as entrees, appetizers and desserts.

Public voting began April 10 and will run through April 30, 2024. To find the link, search General Mills recipe contest. Direct links are provided at SuwanneeValleyTimes.com.

The 2024 Biskies Recipe Contest finalists and their award-winning recipes include:
•Matthew Eng, Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro in Jacksonville, Florida: Mini Korean Biscuit Dogs
•Rebecca Thomas, Dixie Grill in Live Oak, Florida: Strawberry Cream Biscuit Bites
•Kristi Sanders, Rustic Saloon in Montello, Wisconsin: BisGrit Shrimp
•Jaime Fernández, Queen Margherita Trattoria in Nutley, New Jersey: Banana and Chocolate Pudding with Biscuit and Vanilla Ice Cream

Rebecca Thomas, along with her husband, Robbie Thomas, now run and operate the Dixie Grill and specialize in comfort cuisine. The Dixie Grill was established in 1959 by Mr. & Mrs. Wade and has become a landmark, located in historic downtown Live Oak.
Charles & Myra Thomas, Robbie’s parents, have owned the restaurant since 1984. Their hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“I hope they enjoy this dish, I appreciate every vote and am glad I get to participate in this,” added Thomas.