5th Annual Virginia Peanut Festival Kick-Off Kook-Off
On Thursday night, September 22, 2011, the 5th Annual Virginia Peanut Festival Kick-Off Kook-Off took place at Veterans Memorial Park Pavilion where local cooks competed for prizes in three categories: Main Dish, Dessert, and Side/Appetizer/Sauces featuring PEANUTS. Despite the threat of rain, 9 cooks offered their completed recipes to more than 100 spectator judges for taste testing. This year's entries ranged from a Peanut Smoothie to Peanut Risotto. The winners, receiving a 3 piece set of professional ceramic baking dishes, in the four categories were:
Main Dish – David Watson, david's Restaurant, Peanut Quesadillas with Shrimp or Chichen
Appetizer/Side Dish – Barbara Suessmann – Peanut Butter Dip
Desserts and Treats - Jean Cobb – Salty Dogs
Nutty Prize – Moe Ghassemi – Virginia (Alabama) Peanut Soup
In addition to the yummy Peanut based entries, attendees also had to opportunity to sample some local Virginia wine from Rosemont Vineyards & Winery, and pose for pictures with Paula Dean Look-A-Like, Nancy Williams, who returned for a second year as our special guest judge. Thank you to our sponsors, Boar's Head Provisions Co, Emporia Self Storage, Good Earth Peanut Company, Lowe's Home Improvement, Riparian Woman's Club, Hotel Virginia Antiques, and Arby's – Emporia.
The proceeds from this year's event are going to support the ongoring efforts of the Emporia Downtown Development Association to put Emporia on the travel map. The goal is to raise $11,000.00 to install large highway signs directing I-95 to Historic Downtown Emporia. The signs are expensive to purchase, but once installed they will tell everyone who drives by that Emporia has a Historic Downtown and bring those tourist into town to shop and eat.
"It is the EDDA's mission to preserve, protect and promote the history and historic properties located with downtown Emporia" said Barrett. "Special Events like the Kick-Off Kook-Off help us to do just that, promote downtown and local businesses, raise funds for downtown projects and increase awareness of issues within the traditional commercial districts downtown Emporia."
