Tasty results at the Trinity Lake Lions spaghetti sauce cook-off

From left, Brian Bogdanich, Lions Club president, presents cookoff winner Laurie Knight with a grand prize check for $250; judges Mary Havener, Pat Banducci and Tony Morino; Kelli Gant, nonmeat sauce winner. The first Trinity Lake Lions Spaghetti Cook-off last Saturday at the IOOF Hall in Trinity Center was a roaring success. The cook-off’s $250 Grand Prize enticed nine entries across the meat and non-meat categories. Event judges Tony Marino of Marino’s Restaurant; Pat Banducci, past restaurant owner; and Mary Havener, owner of the MiniKat Grill, were faced with a difficult challenge in selecting the top sauce.

Contestants were Lynn Hartley, Trinity Center; Debbie Amoss, Coffee Creek; Cheryl Mogensen, Trinity Center; Laurie Knight, Weaverville; Barbara Duca, Trinity Center; Kelli Gant, Trinity Center; Arlene Hollister, Trinity Center; Ann Bryant, Covington Mill; and Linda Baird, Trinity Center.

Laurie Knight won best sauce in the meat category and Kelli Gant won best non-meat sauce. Grand prize went to Knight for her very yummy and rich sauce.

After judging was completed, a community spaghetti dinner was held and attendees voted for People’s Choice Sauce. Eighty-three dinners were served and nine gallons of sauce were consumed to reach a vote. Mogensen walked away with the People’s Choice apron. “Guido” Mogensen had tried very hard to bribe the judges in their grand prize decision, but the $2 bill payola could not overcome judge integrity.

Chefs’ hats off to the Lions for putting on another fun and successful North Lake event.