It was announced on Friday morning that Karoline Schwartz, Tabernash resident and executive chef at the historic Grand Lake Lodge, has advanced to one of the final two contestants in the Own Your Own Nationwide Restaurant Competition.

Schwartz was finishing up her fourth season at the Grand Lake Lodge before flying out to Burgaw, North Carolina, to compete.

These finalists were selected from over 500 applicants.

On Oct. 21, the 24 chefs competed in a Town Square Cook-Off where competitors served their signature dishes. Schwartz’s dish was a braised and seared pork belly served with crispy goat cheese and honeyed muscadine grapes. Every ingredient in the dish was sourced locally in North Carolina.

The chefs competed in these pop-up kitchen settings where around 200 Burgaw locals walked around tasting the 24 different dishes. That night, judges announced the 12 who would be moving forward and Schwartz was one of them.

Then the applicants went on field trips to explore and learn more about the area Oct. 22-23.

On Oct. 23, judges also met with the chefs to discuss their restaurant concepts. By the end of the day, the judges announced the six chefs who were moving forward, which included Schwartz.

However, there was no time to rest for these six chefs.

Immediately, these chefs began working shifts at the judge’s restaurants. From Oct. 24-26, these chefs were given the challenge of working with others in a new, unfamiliar environment. The judges got to work directly with these chefs and interact with them in the kitchen setting.

This morning, the final two were announced by Richard Johnson, one of the founders of OYO, and gave Schwartz a hug after telling her that she would be moving on.

Vincent Mangual of Brooklyn, New York, is the other finalist.

Mangual’s concept is a restaurant named after his grandmother, “Rositas.” His concept aims to capture the essence of traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. His menu for Rositas includes timeless Puerto Rican dishes like roasted chicken, pernil, mofongo and other Puerto Rican favorites.

Mangual was originally eliminated when the 12 finalists were announced. After Joe Friday, a chef from Toronto, Canada, could no longer compete, Mangual took his spot in the competition.

What comes next in the competition?

Schwartz and Mangual will be given a day of rest on Saturday.

At the Grand Finale Dinner which takes place on Sunday evening, the final two applicants will prepare and serve a three-course meal for 50 guests in the historic Burgaw Train Depot. Then at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, the winner of the first OYO Nationwide Restaurant Competition will be announced.

The winner will be announced on their social media as well.

When asked how she felt about advancing in the competition, Schwartz says she was obviously thrilled to make it to the final two, but she also remained humble.

“Just trying to keep my cool and do what I do best,” said Schwartz.

The winner of Own Your Own will be handed the keys a 2,250 square-foot restaurant space along with a million dollars to design and outfit the space however the winner wishes.