Perhaps a bit over-stated, since there seemed to be chefs from about a dozen local restaurants vying for the coveted title of the winner of this year's cook-off. So, not the world, the hemisphere, North America, US, State of Texas, or even the county represented... but, it sounds impressive.
We were meeting friends Mike and MJ there - they called before we got there to let us know they would find seats for the 4 of us. Now, before we get too deep into this post, Joan, Mike, and MJ like shrimp... me, not so much. While there are the various restaurants and some amateurs offering their shrimp dishes for sale to the public, in the past, I have been able to get a burger, pizza, or something not made from bottom-feeding sea critters. Not so much this year.
The Cook-Off has been in the parking lot of our local strip mall (of sorts), and was again this year. They set up a fence in the parking lot and charge a $5 entrance fee. Well worth it for us - not for the opportunity to eat shrimp, but to listen to The Agency, a band from the Valley... these guys have been playing together for 25 years, mostly featuring songs from the 60s and 70s. For anyone from the midwest, this band reminds me of The Rumbles (from Omaha) - top 40 music of that era, with plenty of harmony and good musicianship. This is the 17th year in row that The Agency has been playing for the Cook-Off.
We parked, walked to the entrance, paid our entrance fee, and walked around for a preview before finding Mike and MJ...
Something for everyone: bouncy castle for the kids, beer tent for the grown-ups, some booths selling clothing, the local Animal Shelter, HEB (a Texas grocery store chain), some dessert booths, one selling huge turkey wings, but mostly shrimpy food booths. And a bit tent with chairs and tables where the band is set up...
We found Mike and MJ and settled in before heading out to try some food offerings...
During the band's breaks, there were performances by the high school and junior high cheerleaders, and the school mariachi band...
And, the school mascot: a fighting tarpon...
If you're thinking this sounds like a small town festival type of thing, you'd be right - and, it is a good time. The Agency playing...
Us listening...
This is the first year in a long time that we didn't stay to see who the Cook-Off Champions were. Heading out...
A nice way to pass a warm and windy Saturday in the Tropical Tip.
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