Team leaders are labeled “eggheads,” but in an endearing way at a cooking contest that also serves as a fundraiser.
Cook Karl Wendel already has started crackin’ on perfecting his “eggsacting” specialty recipes, including bacon-and-egg cheeseburgers, for the Second Annual Hoosier Egg Fest & Food Festival Saturday at Thompson Furniture and Mattress, 2440 Central Ave. in Columbus.
The weekend fundraiser for the Firemen’s Cheer Fund aims to raise $5,000 in donations for the cause to make Christmas bright for struggling youngsters and families. The inaugural gathering last year attracted more than 400 people and raised more than $3,000, according to organizers with the furniture store.
“The barbecuing community is generally good people, good food and good fun,” Wendel said.
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The Georgia-based Big Green Egg barbecue cooker company launched the concept of sizzling food-oriented events nationwide to publicize their products — by teams using them at fundraisers — and to simultaneously promote community goodwill. The idea already has grown substantially locally.
Fifteen teams of cookers/”eggheads” competed last year under cloudy skies that sprinkled briefly.
“We kind of dodged a (weather) bullet,” said Spencer Thompson, the company owner and president.
This year, 24 teams are set to humorously get up in each other’s grill to smoke out their opponent, if you will. Dishes will include a broad range of grilled and smoked food, including steak, burgers, pizza, brisket, ribs, pasta and more. Craft beer will be available.
A silent auction will add to the fundraising fun.
The furniture store serves as the gathering’s title sponsor and buys all the meat for the “eggheads” to prepare.
Columbus cook Conor Voelz won last year’s event with the most tips for his ribeye sandwiches. No Colonel Sanders-style secret ingredients for him.
“No, nothing too secret,” Voelz said. “In fact, I showed some of the people every step.”
He knew he’d found something worthwhile by watching the crowd.
“People kept coming back for more and putting more tips in the jar,” Voelz said.
The winning egghead lands a new Big Green Egg grill. But Voelz mentioned he’s hardly competitive, and is more interested in turning up the heat on a great slab of meat.
Other cooks such as Wendel just love grilling any day. For instance, on a recent weekend, he made dishes ranging from shrimp kabobs to sweet corn mac-and-cheese.
But firing up the grill to help such a well-known nonprofit local effort is like a succulent main dish — too good to pass up for Wendel.
“There’s a lot of excitement for this, that’s for sure,” he said.
And like any good meal with multiple courses, there’s more good stuff coming.
Already, organizers are laying plans for a second Big Green Egg fundraiser this year. Girls On the Grill will be Oct. 27 to raise money for the local Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.
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What: Second Annual Hoosier Egg Fest & Food Festival, a fundraiser for the Firemen’s Cheer Fund.
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine.
Where: Thompson Furniture and Mattress, 2440 Central Ave. in Columbus.
Includes: A broad range of grilled and smoked food, including steak, burgers, pizza, brisket, ribs, pasta and more.
Tickets: $10, available at the event. Youngsters 10 and younger are admitted free with a paying adult. Tickets get you into the event to sample as many food items as you like. Diners then leave tips for each cook. And the cook with the most in tips wins the event. All proceeds go to the Cheer Fund.
Parking: Nearby off Cottage Avenue.
Information: thompsonfurniture.net
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