Great Winter Soup Cook-Off Award Winners Announced at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
A total of 33 participants competed in the 1st Annual Great Winter Soup Cook-Off held at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center on Saturday, February 8, 2014. The event proved to be successful as guests and participants mingled and tasted many different homemade soups prepared by businesses and individuals. A panel of five culinary experts rated the soups in a blind tasting based on texture (consistency), taste, aroma, and appearance. The judges were Jassen Campbell, Peyton Boyd, Niki Weir, Sara Cardinale, and Shaun Crookshank. During the awards ceremony at 2:30 p.m., winners and runners-up were announced and presented with ribbons, cash prizes, gift cards, soup ladles and stock pots.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1st Place
Blair Bullock, The Oaks BBQ, Bristol, VA
Brunswick Stew
Runner Up
Jack Barrow, 128 Pecan, Abingdon, VA
Oyster Stew
JUDGES CHOICE
Professional Category
1st Place with Traveling Trophy
Melissa Gleason, Me & K’s, Johnson City, TN
Chicken Tortilla Soup
2nd Place
Chef Nathan Breeding, Glenrochie Country Club, Abingdon, VA
Butternut Squash Soup
3rd Place:
Heather Jefferys, Farm Food, Abingdon, VA
Loca Local Soup
Non-Professional Category
1st Place
Penny Hite, Abingdon Olive Oil Company, Abingdon, VA
Thai Coconut Lime Chicken Soup
2nd Place
Melissa Roberts, Symphony of the Mountains, Kingsport, TN
Tuscan Soup
3rd Place
Kevin Slaughter, Abingdon, VA
Turkey Gumbo
Best Chicken Soup
Mary Ann McFarland, VCE Family Nutrition Program, Abingdon, VA
Flu Chasing Chicken Soup
Best Beef Soup
Blair Bullock, The Oaks BBQ, Bristol, VA
Brunswick Stew
Best Vegetable Soup
Santiago Figaredo, Figaredo’s, Abingdon, VA
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Showmanship for the Best Decorated Booth
Charlsie Jordan, Loco Gringos BBQ, Pound, VA
Rooted in Appalachia
Chef Nathan Breeding, Glenrochie Country Club, Abingdon, VA
Butternut Squash Soup
Sponsors were First Bank & Trust, Green Valley Poultry Farm, Rooted in Appalachia, and WABN. Amy Lynn, Daytime Tri-Cities, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. Jennifer Ferreira, the event organizer says, “We are so appreciative of all the support for the 1st Annual
Great Winter Soup Cook-Off from both competitors and attendees. Everyone at this event is a winner. The soups were outstanding and delicious. We can’t wait until next year’s event scheduled on February 7, 2015. The date has been set and plans are being made for another soul-warming community event. Soup’s On at the Higher Ed Center!”