Annual Benefit Cook-Off
Past Winners
Every Cooking Award Since 2008
Every spring at the Annual Benefit Cook-Off, local cooking teams serve their best dishes and guests vote for their favorites. These are the teams that have taken home cooking awards since the first Cook-Off in 2008. The awards have changed over the years, from Best Overall Meal, Best Dish and Most Creative Meal in the early years to Best Appetizer, Best Entrée and Best Dessert today.
2026
Best Appetizer, Best Entrée & Best Dessert
Big Hungry BBQ
A clean sweep of all three cooking awards with a Smoked Bacon Jalapeño Dip, a Brisket Smashed Potato Bite and a Campfire S’mores Crumble.
Visit Big Hungry BBQAbout the Benefit Cook-Off2025
Best Appetizer
Wildwoods Grill
Crispy Tostada with Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas, Maple Onion Jam and Pickled Fennel.
Visit Wildwoods Grill
Best Entrée & Best Dessert
Big Hungry BBQ
Mac N Cheese Boat and Southern Banana Pudding.
Visit Big Hungry BBQ2024
Best Appetizer & Best Entrée
Foodology
Elote (Mexican Street Corn) and Texas Brisket with Mac and Cheese.
Visit Foodology
Best Dessert
Creighton’s Crazy Egg Cafe & Coffee Bar
Signature Frozen Crazy Egg Mocha.
Visit Crazy Egg Cafe2023
Best Appetizer & Best Entrée
Creighton’s Crazy Egg Cafe & Coffee Bar
Pickles BELT Stack with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli, and Not Your Mama’s Meatloaf with Smashed Potatoes, Rosemary Gravy and Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans.
Visit Crazy Egg Cafe
2022
13th Annual Cook-Off
Back in Person
Best Appetizer: Chapman’s Brewing (Asian Crab Cakes with Mango Apple Slaw)
Best Entrée: Crossroad Inn (BBQ Pulled Pork on Smoked Cheddar Mac & Cheese)
Best Dessert: From My Side of the Kitchen (Lemon Blueberry Custard Bars)
2020 & 2021
No Cook-Off
Paused for the Pandemic
The 2020 Cook-Off was cancelled because of COVID-19, and The Center held an online Alternative Cook-Off campaign in its place. In 2021 the Cook-Off ran as a virtual campaign. Cooking teams returned in 2022.
2019
Best Appetizer
The Urban Station
Cauliflower Zita Soup.
Best Entrée & Best Dessert
From My Side of the Kitchen
Not Your Daddy’s Baby Back Ribs with Cheddar Whipped Mashed Potatoes, and a French Vanilla and Milk Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Raspberries.
Now The Kitchen & Company2018
11th Annual Cook-Off
Cooking Award Winners
Best Appetizer: Daniel Menu & Party Consulting
Best Entrée: Bruno’s BBQ & Catering
Best Dessert: From My Side of the Kitchen
2017
Best Appetizer & Best Entrée
The Restaurant by Belle Haven
Prime Rib Crostini with Horsey Cream Sauce and Pickled Caper Relish, and Brown Sugar Cognac Glazed Bacon-Wrapped Salmon.
Best Dessert
Bruno’s BBQ & Catering
Banana Pudding with Caramel Sauce.
2016
Best Appetizer & Best Dessert
Daniel Menu & Party Consulting
Sun-Dried Tomato and Bacon Cheeseball, and Apple Bread Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce.
Visit Daniel Menu & Party Consulting
Best Entrée
Bruno’s BBQ
Korean Short Rib Tacos.
2015
8th Annual Cook-Off
The First All-Professional Year
For the first time, every cooking team was a local restaurant or caterer.
Best Meal: Daniel Menu & Party Consulting
Most Creative Menu: Pickles Café
Best Presentation: Ceruti’s at Eagle Glen
2014
7th Annual Cook-Off
Cooking Award Winners
Best Overall Meal & Best Presentation: Team Live United (United Way)
Most Unique Menu: Team Forklift (a Greek-themed meal)
2013
6th Annual Cook-Off
Best Overall Meal
Team Dillon won Best Overall Meal with a menu of turtle soup and wild game.
2012
5th Annual Cook-Off
Cooking Award Winners
Best Overall Meal & Best Dish: Team Heuer, led by State Representative Kathy Heuer
Most Creative Meal: Team Dillon
2011
4th Annual Cook-Off
Cooking Award Winners
Best Overall Meal: Churubusco High School
Best Item & Most Creative Meal: Team Whitko (Coffee and Cocoa-Dusted Duck Breast)
2010
3rd Annual Cook-Off
Team Dillon & Churubusco High School
Team Dillon and the Churubusco High School team were the award winners. Pictured is the 2010 Best Dish award.
2009
2nd Annual Cook-Off
Team Dillon & Team Parkview
Team Dillon and Team Parkview were the award-winning teams, and both came back to cook again in 2010.
2008
1st Annual Cook-Off
The First Cook-Off
Best Overall Meal: Team Sheiss, led by Kelley Sheiss
Most Creative Meal & Best Individual Item: Team Dillon, led by State Senator Gary “Doc” Dillon (Marinated and Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Venison)
Support The Center
Every Cook-Off guest, sponsor and cooking team helps keep The Center’s programs free for local students.