Winter Camp Cookoff in Colusa, California

My journey to my first Dutch oven cookoff took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. Instead of competing and them becoming a judge, I judged three contests February and March last year before I made the decision to compete.

The choice to enter a people’s choice cookoff was a good one. In a people's choice cookoff, spectators do the judging instead of a panel of expert judges. There is less pressure to perform and the event gives you a change to see what works and what doesn't. You also have the opportunity to compare menus and equipment with your neighbor with less fear of rejection. And it prepares you for your first big competition.

My menu consisted of:

Chef Joe’s Chuckwagon Chili
K & B Dutch Oven Bread
Quick Cinnamon Buns with Buttermilk Icing

I’ve already posted the chili and bread recipes. I’ll post the cinnamon bun recipe in a few days.

Dave Herzog, from Cast Iron Cooks of the West out of Redding, California, stopped by my kitchen around 9:30 a.m. We chatted for a while about the Pleasanton cookoff on Saturday, February 26, 2005 (see press release) and his schooling. CICW is still meeting monthly in Redding. Dave said that he plans to help me in Redding as long as college doesn’t get in the way.

I also saw Don Mason of Red Bluff, California. He’s given me permission to re-print portions of his Dutch Oven Cooking newsletter. Don will be happy to the mailing list for the newsletter. Email for the Dutch Oven Cooking newsletter is iron_kettle@hotmail.com.

Once Don sends me an electronic copy (he's battling software bugs at this time), I'll post the article with the winners and their dishes. He also inserted a nice article on Dutch oven temperature control, which is good for the novice Dutch oven cook.

More to come on the Winter Camp Cookoff ...


The crowds at the Winter Camp Cookoff in Colusa, California.