#71: tomatoes - September 2015

Our first tomato cookoff was held at Bronwen's Mount Pleasant apartment on the 7th of September. It was a lovely, warm evening, with that wistful end-of-summer feeling about it. There was room enough for all of us to sit at the kitchen table, drinking wine and enjoying the breeze.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES

Cass: "absentee salsa" stewed tomato salsa with garlic, cilantro, & green peppers*
Jen: "once bitten, twice shy" puff pastry tart with roasted garlic, roasted heirloom tomatoes, capers, & fresh herbs (recipe adapted from here)

Malloreigh: "smoke tomatoes erryday" smoked tomato risotto with cherry tomatoes, garlic, & basil

Liang: "Mario & Luigi" zucchini linguine with roasted tomatoes, chili flakes, & pine nuts

Bronwen: "awesomesauce" spaghetti & homemade marinara with basil & olive oil garnish

Allie: "it takes two to salsa" sun sugar tomato, cucumber, & cilantro salsa; roasted heirloom tomato, jalapeño & poblano pepper, & avocado salsa

*Cass competed for the first time, and in absentia, so we had more dishes than attendees.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
seconds: Jen
presentation: Jen
creativity: Malloreigh/Allie
tomatoeyness: Cass
perceived effort: Malloreigh
overall favourite: Jen

overall winner: Jen

best name: (unscored category) Allie

#70: farmers' market & garden - July 2015

Our farmers' market & garden cookoff was held on the 19th of July at Ravenclaw House (Mal & Allie's). The idea was to use fresh, in-season items from your garden or the farmers' market. It was a very hot day, like much of the summer, so we enjoyed some cold beer and white wine while trying to catch a breeze from the open living room door.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES

Jen: "green with heat stroke" garlic*-roasted zucchini* and basil* pesto risotto with toasted pinenuts

Bronwen: "nacho gazpacho" salmorejo (cold tomato*, bread, & olive oil soup) with patata* brava & coconut bacon

Allie: "that redhead Italian" bread* with bruschetta (tomato*, garlic*, & basil)

Kristina: "market after dark" zaru soba (cold noodles) in a soy & rice vinegar sauce with shiso*, mint*, okra*, tomato*, & homemade pickled ginger

Chris: "jammin'" baguette and 4 kinds of homemade jam topped with various fresh herbs*, with arugula* & blackberry* garnish

Malloreigh: "pie de la polenta" polenta tart with peach* filling, blueberry* sauce, & fresh basil*

Starred items are garden or market fresh.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
seconds: Bronwen
presentation: Kristina
creativity: Kristina/Malloreigh
perceived effort: Bronwen
best use of theme: Jen/Kristina
overall favourite: Allie/Bronwen

overall winner: Bronwen

best name: (unscored category) Jen/Bronwen

#69: barbecue (second edition) - June 2015

Our second BBQ-off was held at Blühaus on the 21st of June, hot & sunny. While attendance was sparse, we ended up with a nicely complete meal.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES

Malloreigh: "cerulean cheese salad" arugula, grilled peach & pear, cashew blue cheese, and walnuts in a raspberry mustard vinaigrette

Jen: "dad jokes Thai tempeh" pad Thai-inspired marinated grilled tempeh with coconut ginger creamed corn, bean sprouts, & peanuts

Allie: "Earthbound" buttery barbecue-roasted fingerling potatoes, carrots, onions, & onion scapes

Ash: "the most ancient traditions" barbecue-baked focaccia bread with apples in a bourbon caramel sauce

Also in attendance was Tamara's dog, Bea, though much to her chagrin, she did not get to try the food.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
seconds: Malloreigh
presentation: Ash
creativity: Malloreigh/Ash
best use of theme: Jen
perceived effort: Ash
overall favourite: 4-way tie!

overall winner: Malloreigh/Ash

best name: (unscored category) Allie

#68: sushi - May 2015

Sushi cookoff was held at Ravenclaw House on the 24th of May. It was a beautiful spring evening, and we enjoyed drinking sake in the living room with the front door open.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES

Kristina: "one lump or two?" shiso & pickled plum onigiri with torched miso; carrot & pickle garnish

Jen: "innananari" bean curd nigiri with sriracha mayo and black sesame seeds

Ash: "just squash it all together" squash temaki (hand roll) with potato, kale, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, and red curry sauce*

Malloreigh: "it's sushi, mate!" tempura-battered chicken-style seitan with cucumber & avocado in an inside-out roll, served with sesame mayo

Chris: "don't Osaka the boat" Osaka-style battera sushi with black & white rice, torched avocado, & fresh herbs; garnished with sake plum dressing, black sesame seeds, & gooseberry

Also in attendance were Jeff and two others (Maddie & Allie, I think).
*note: when I asked Ash about the photo, they specifically wanted me to photograph the messiest-looking cone.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
seconds: Jen
presentation: Kristina
creativity: Chris
perceived effort: Malloreigh/Chris
sushivity: (best use of theme) Jen
overall favourite: Kristina

overall winner: Chris

best name: (unscored category) Kristina