#14: crêpes - April 2010

Crêpe-off was held at Manitoba House (Amanda's) on April 11th. Also in attendance were Laryssa, Dan, Corinna, Rob, Jeff Z, and Angelique.

The winner was Dan with an 'eggs' Benedict & asparagus crêpe. Amanda's were roasted pear with orange & lemon juice, zest, and cardamom, topped with orange caramel sauce with cloves & poppy seeds. Apparently it was a lovely spring day and everyone had a nice afternoon relaxing on the porch with mimosas.

#13: avocado - March 2010

Avocado-off was held at Jeff Downer's on March 21st. It was a massive competition - thirteen competitors! Yet again I have no photo of the scoreboard so this is all from what I can recall.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES
Amanda: chilled avocado soup with a grenadine topping
Jeff Z: avocado and tomato pizza with avocado-cilantro cream topping
Jen: smoky bean chili with avocado sour cream
Dan: pasta with an avocado sauce
Corrina: handmade avocado noodle
Malloreigh: avocado and sundried tomato ravioli in a wonton wrapper (recipe here)
Kaylie: avocado pie with soy chorizo and root vegetables
Yaara: avocado sushi
Anna (I think that was her name?): avocado chocolate pudding

and a few more I can't remember, I know Jeff D made something but I forget what, and there was at least one more avocado soup!

Jeff's pizza (pictured below) was agreed by many to be the best pizza they had eaten in ages, but the winner overall was Malloreigh's beautiful and delicious handmade ravioli.

#12: curry - March 2010

Curry cookoff was held in early March at Dan's bachelor pad in Strathcona. I remember there being something like 11 entries, but I don't have a clear photo of the scoreboard so I can't be sure. A fuckton of rice was made and Jeff Z did not make an entry, but contributed a large pot of chai with almond milk. Some entries I recall:
Amanda's chana masala
Malloreigh's eggplant panang curry
Jen's swiss chard dahl (homage to the accidental chard pie)
Laryssa's coconut & red pepper tofu curry
Dan's tropical fruit & black bean curry

and I think Kaylie, Corrina, Jeff D, and Ryan also contributed.

#11: soup & sandwich - January 2010

This was the first cookoff that was organised on facebook, and it was a fiasco. Dates were changed numerous times, people complained about not being able to make certain dates, and in trying to please everyone, Malloreigh gave up and passed the helm over to Laryssa. I'm writing about this despite not being in attendance in order to try and get the blog caught up, so if someone wants to post the details please do so. Apparently the food was of course good but the event was tainted with all the frustrations of trying to organise it. We agreed that in the future dates must be chosen at the end of the cookoff prior, and if a couple of people can't make it, them's the breaks.

No cookoff was held in February because of the Olympic shenanigans forcing people to be extra busy, or working graveyard shifts, or out of town; we instead opted to have two in March.

#10: Christmas baking - December 2009

Bake-off was held in late December at Britt's house. I don't have a photo of the scoreboard so the only record of entries is in the form of blurry photographs of the food. It was a cosy affair with warm drinks and only a handful of entries. I think the winner was Jocelyn, who I believe made some kind of pie? It was her first time competing.

If you have a better record/memory of this event, please edit this entry accordingly.

#9: comfort food - November 2009

We opted not to have a cookoff in October and instead had a non-competitive vegan Thanksgiving dinner at the Treehouse. In November, the comfort food cookoff was held at Blühaus on the cold and rainy night of November 22nd.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES
Jen: grilled 'cheese' and tomato soup (VeganRella on rye bread)
Laryssa: shepherd's pie (lentils, veggies, & mashed potato)
Yaara: I'm broke (rice & lentils, "just like mama used to make")
Jeff D: southern six pack (biscuits & gravy)
Malloreigh: fuckin' poutine! (fries & tofu with mushroom gravy)
Angelique: a former cheese lover's addiction (mac & 'cheese' with cornflake crust and tomatoes)
Corinna: faux chicken pot pie (tofu, veggies & gravy in a pie crust)

Also in attendance were Dan, Kaylie, Kerstyn, Ben, Luke, Jen's roommate Jesse, and a whole bunch of beer and Southern Comfort. Jeff Z was stuck at work, sad to miss a delicious cookoff at home.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
second piece: Jeff D
most authentic: Jen
presentation: Angelique
most comforting: Angelique
overall favourite: Malloreigh/Angelique

overall winner: Angelique

#8: tofu scramble - September 2009

As people are generally broke and/or travelling during the summer, cookoffs went on hiatus. Tofu scram-off was held at the house of 2 Girls, 5 Bikes on the 6th of September.

COMPETITORS AND ENTRIES
Amanda: "Shrapnel" featuring summer fruit, mint, and chipotle.
Laryssa: "Chinga tu Madre" featuring chipotle, black beans, corn, fresh salsa, and avocado.
Malloreigh: "The O.G." featuring coconut, mustard, and fenugreek.
Yaara: "The Italian Scrimmage" featuring roasted garlic, assorted tomatoes, and basil.
Kaylie: "Southern Muslim in Autumn" featuring Indian barbecue, cauliflower, and dates.

Also in attendance were Jen Clark, Jeff Z, Jeff's sister Natalie, Anita, Kerstyn, and Angelique. And a whole lotta mimosas.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
I don't actually have a picture of the poster after scoring, but if anyone can remember who won, feel free to fill this in.
texture:
presentation:
second piece:
creativity:
overall favourite:

overall winner: Yaara

After we had all stuffed ourselves with booze and food, there was a rainy adventure in a nearby park, of which there are numerous photos on Jeff's facebook.