This past weekend, I had the honor to be among the list of 35 local judges at the 11th Annual Pensacola EggFest.
For those who aren’t familiar, this is a charity cooking contest where teams sign up to wow judges with dishes cooked on a Big Green Egg. The rules are flexible. Entries do not have to be traditional backyard barbecue fare, in fact, thinking outside the box is encouraged. But at least a good portion of the entry must be prepared using a Big Green Egg.
You’d be surprised how creative teams have gotten over the years. So much so, in 2020, during the pandemic, the coordinators of the event culled recipes for a cookbook which also serves as a beautiful encapsulation of the history of the event which to-date has raised over $650,000 for local non-profits.
My husband, a professional chef and culinary instructor, tagged along with me and my judging group. He didn’t sway my judging in any way, which I thought was sweet of him. Even when I asked his opinion, he said, “This is your day, honey!”
There were 38 teams competing this year. The judges were divided into five groups and each group judged only a handful of dishes. I was pleased that this was the plan, because honestly, I don’t think my taste buds or tummy could handle sampling all 38 dishes! Of the six entrants we nibbled, our group had to decide on the Top Two to send to the Finals. We all agreed on our #1 choice, but our second place was a toss up between several. They were all that good. In the end, the second runner-up was a well-deserved team that had obviously put a lot of thought and effort into the day, what they would serve, how it was prepared, and the manner in which it was presented.
The weather had looked to be iffy, but turned out to be pretty perfect. The VIP crowd showed up at 11:00 and the General Admission began at Noon. The crowd was thick, but jovial. We saw people dressed up, dressed down, some with kids in tow, others walking pups. Most everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and at this venue, it just made sense. The Pensacola EggFest has been held at the Blue Wahoo Stadium in beautiful downtown Pensacola since the very first year (2013), when the event AND the stadium were both brand new. The stadium is gorgeous and was built to take advantage of the view of Pensacola Bay.
So, yesterday, I was a little judgy—it was #GoodFood for a #GoodCause. It was also a great deal of fun and I hope to be asked again. Let’s plan to meet up there next year, okay?
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