Your chance to be named top camp cook

I found this item on the Siskiyou County (California) Visitors Bureau website: "The Top Camp Cook competition offers a new barbecue as the top prize ...." It sounds like Syskiyou County is serious about its camp cooking.

According to the entry form, aspiring Top Camp Cooks have six hours to prepare their best dinner entree for the judges. Once cooking starts at 10 a.m., all food preparation must be done on-site.

The entry form doesn't limit the type of allowed cooking equipment. It only says, "No open campfires allowed." Barbecues and open pit fires can be used. I'm sure the even will see a variety of modes, like Dutch oven, open pit, smokers and grill.

All flames must be extinguished ("Flame out, heat off") by 2 p.m., when judging starts A special award will be given for the most unique cooking devise.

The event will take place this Saturday, March 14, 2009, at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The fairgrounds is located at 1712 Fairlane Rd., Yreka, CA 96097. The phone number is (530) 842-2767.