Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Food Fight Maybe Next Time You'll Take our Advice-Bites Reader Makes Bank
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Last week we gave you the heads up about the slow cooker competition being held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort as part of the Southern Food and Wine Festival. We also suggested that the risk/reward ratio looked pretty good since we knew that the organizers were looking to boost entries by eliminating the entry fee entirely and providing all the ingredients. They offered to do everything short of stirring your pot for you, people!
At least two Bites readers took our advice to heart and not only had a great time making some chili, but also getting rewarded for their efforts. Frequent commenter Erin corresponded with the officials about safe ways to brown meat for chili, because while creative recipes were encouraged, nobody wanted to try the salmonella chowder. After being told that contestants would be allowed to bring their own electric skillets and hot plates to help with preparation Erin threw her chef's tocque into the ring. Unfortunately, Erin did not progress to the finals, although she did get to keep the Hamilton Beach 33165 Slow Cooker that she was assigned to use in the competition. So there's that.
Inaptly named Bitester HungryHippo entered the contest with her mother, competing under the team name "The Jersey Girls" and offering their take on Boardwalk Chili. Completing the family affair, mother and daughter wore fetching team jerseys designed by HH's sister. Their chili was indeed a Jersey interpretation on con carne, like Springsteen covering a Willie Nelson song.
Thick with Italian sausage and heavy on the basil while still maintaining a nice balance of flavors, Boardwalk Chili stood apart from the other finalists' recipes. The sacrificial bowls were presented on a clever miniature pier constructed by Mr. HungryHippo.
This bit of whimsy won extra creativity points from the judges, who included two chefs from the Gaylord Opryland Resort kitchens and country demi-star, Trent Willmon.
In the end, Team Jersey Girls finished in third place behind a couple from West Virginia who spent much of their winnings on the lobster and heavy cream chili/chowder (drool) that earned them second and a professional cooking team from Albertville, Alabama and their piquant venison stew. As bronze medal winner, HungryHippo also got to keep her slow cooker and received a check for $350. The Mountaineers took $650 back with them to the Hill Country and the deer of northern Alabama now have 1000 bucks worth of extra ammo to look out for.
All the competitors seemed to have a great time enjoying the camaraderie and competition and visiting the vendors in the exhibit hall. Besides a few butterflies that seemed to be evident as shaky hands ladled beans in bowls for final judgment, the whole affair looked like a lot of fun. Hopefully even more of you readers can participate and win next year.
Comments (2)
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Hey! I wish I wasn't such a dork and had conversed with my competitors more! If so I would have learned that Jersey Girls was HungryHippo! I just assumed they were out of towners! I was cooking right behind yall. Nice ladies, cute baby. :D
PS. I totally went hope and slept the afternoon away, and then slept all day Sunday. I'm normally a night shift worker, so believe me, I was not at all sad when I didn't make it to the next round! It was such a fun experience. Thanks again BITES for pointing me to it!
