Not Your Mamma's Pork & Beans: 1st Annual Cassoulet Cook-off

On Sunday, Newport Wine Cellar & Le Petit Gourmet hosted our 1st annual Cassoulet Cook off, and it was, to my estimation, a huge success.

We had seven participants, all of whom cheffed up some fantastic Country French casseroles, from fully vegetarian to three kinds of meat.  we had over twenty people come, enjoy, and vote for the winning cassoulet, and it was a tough choice.  All the participants and tasters agreed, all seven were delicious in their own right. Some conventional, some a little more meaty than others or more perhaps more veggie, but all unique and so commendable that these folks would take a weekend to devote to crafting a gorgeous pot of beans. 

All that said, it was a competition, and there had to be a winner: 2012 People's Choice Award goes to Kelly Pennell.  She made a wonderful and all locally sourced cassoulet with pork that she and her husband raised (yes, tough to compete with this, right?), as well as a variety of delicious locally grown vegetables.

We all agreed that the Cahors paired best with the cassoulet, Coutale at $16.99 is such a steal! 

All so good, and we are going to do it again, June 24th 6 pm, Lobster Roll...start working on your recipe!

eat, drink and think,

cheers, Maria