Gillem Team Captures Championship
in 6th Annual Johnny Chester
Dutch Oven Cooking Challenge

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

On Saturday morning, soon after daylight, you could find the aroma of delicious meals simmering in Dutch ovens, in Heritage Park, in Sulphur Springs. It was a "bevy" of cooks intent on winning the top prize for a meal prepared in the historic cooking method. It was the 6th Annual Johnny Chester Memorial Dutch Oven Cooking Challenge, and brought a number of cooks out, that have "mastered" the art of cooking Dutch ovens. From breads, to vegetables, meats, and yes, desserts, they were all cooking over open fires and simmering in the coals.

"It's some of the best food you'll ever taste," explained cook Chris Gibbons. "You've got to learn all about the heat and when to apply heat to each of the recipes that you prepare! It isn't always easy and you perfect it by trial and error!"

Cooks were competing in a number of categories....meats, vegetables, desserts, breads, and the presentation segment of the contest. Then, an overall champion was named, with a runner-up and a third place prize. This category was reserved for those who prepared an entire meal in the contest.

When the judges had sampled each dish, they named the following winners:

 

 

The Jerry Gillem Team

Grand Champion Cooks

 

 

 

 

The Melinda Hitt Team

Reserve Champion

 

The Chris Gibbons Team

3rd Place

 

Donny Peters, Best Vegetables

 

Melinda Hitt, Best Meats

 

 

 

 

Katherine Boubar, Best Breads

 

Chris Gibbons, Best Desset

 

Donny Peters, Best Presentation

 

 

 

Congratulations to this year's
Dutch Oven Winners!!!

 

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