The Crabby Chef Competition!

Hello Everyone!
MY NAME IS MARIA AND I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CAL COOKING CLUB. I AM VERY EXCITED TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT OUR CLUB'S MOST RECENT CHALLENGE. THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE ENTERED A REAL COOKING COMPETITION CALLED THE CRABBY CHEF. IT IS AN EVENT HOSTED BY SPENGER'S FISH GROTTO WHERE LOCAL CHEFS COMPETE FOR THE COVETED CRABBY CHEF TITLE (AND A GREAT BIG TROPHY). EACH CHEF IS PRESENTED WITH A WHOLE COOKED CRAB, AN ASSORTMENT OF VEGETABLES AND A SECRET INGREDIENT. THEN, THE CHEFS ARE GIVEN ONLY 20 MINUTES TO PREPARE A DISH USING THE SECRET INGREDIENT AND CRAB. A JUDGING PANEL TASTES AND THE CRABBY-EST CHEF IS AWARDED THE TROPHY!

THIS WAS OUR SECOND YEAR COMPETING IN THE CRABBY CHEF COMPETITION. LAST YEAR ANDREW, CRISTINA, THE DOG, MAGGIE AND I MADE HAND-ROLLED RAVIOLI STUFFED WITH CRAB, PUMPKIN (THE SECRET INGREDIENT) AND A CILANTRO-MINT DIPPING SAUCE. IT WAS DELICIOUS! WE EVEN PLACED FOURTH AMONG OTHER RESTAURANTS AND COOKING SCHOOLS.

THIS YEAR, MAGGIE AND I WERE BACK FOR THE CHALLENGE. WE WERE THINKING THE INGREDIENT MIGHT BE PEAR... OR MAYBE APPLE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE ARTICHOKE! HOW DIFFERENT! SO WHAT DID WE DECIDE TO MAKE? WELL, CRAB TACOS OF COURSE! WE WANTED TO DEEP-FRY CRAB AND ARTICHOKE PIECES COATED IN A BEER BATTER AND SERVE THEM IN A WARM TORTILLA WITH A SALSA OF TOMATO, ONION ARTICHOKE AND LIME. WE HAD TO MAKE THE TORTILLAS IN OUR 20 MINUTE LIMIT BUT THAT WASN'T SO EASY! FOR ONE THING, THERE WAS NO LARD OR SHORTENING WE COULD USE TO MIX WITH FLOUR. THERE WAS, HOWEVER, A PILE OF THICK SLICES OF BACON. OH BOY! WE FRIED THE BACON AND COLLECTED THE FAT! IT WAS PERFECT- WE POURED IT INTO ICE WATER AND USED IT TO MAKE THE TORTILLAS. LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE WERE THE BEST TASTING TORTILLAS IN THE WORLD. WE PRESENTED OUR CRAB TACOS AND THEY LOOKED BEAUTIFUL!

EVEN THOUGH, MAGGIE AND I DIDN'T WIN FIRST PLACE, WE DID HAVE A TON OF FUN CREATING A DISH IN 20 MINUTES. THAT IS NOT VERY MUCH TIME AT ALL! WE ALSO GOT TO KEEP SOME OF THE VEGETABLES, OLIVE OILS AND WINES. ALL IN ALL- A GREAT SUCCESS.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR FOR CRABBY CHEF. THAT'S FOR SURE.