FAIRMONT - There were several new entries along with old favorites at the 13th annual Martin County Blue Ribbon Pork Cook-Off on Wednesday at the Martin County Fair.
While past competitors such as Tami's On the Ave, Green Mill and the Sirloin House were in the competition, newcomers included Monterey Bar and Grill of Trimont, Baileys Restaurant and Bar of Ormsby, and entries from both Interlaken and Rose Lake golf courses.
Of eight competitors, the same three took top honors in the professional judges and people's choice categories.
Vetter's Catering of Fairmont had a meal in a cup with its BBQ Pork Sundae. It was a layering of mashed potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw and BBQ pork. Vetter's Catering was third in the professional judging, and took top honors in the People's Choice awards.
The other two winners were Tami's on the Ave with Sweet Smothered Fries, and Interlaken Golf Course's Smoked Pork Oscar.
Interlaken's dish took first place in the professional competition and third in the People's Choice. Tami's on the Ave took second place in both competitions.
Other dishes included:
Monterey Bar and Grill: Pork Ribs w/BBQ sauce.
Rose Lake Golf Course: BBQ Ribs.
Green Mill: Blackberry Habenero BBQ Ribs.
Baileys Bar and Grill: Pork Philly.
Sirloin House: Smoked Pork Melts.
Judges for the Blue Ribbon Pork Cook-Off this year were Lacey L. Leuth of Larkspur Market, New Ulm; Tim McCarty, executive chef at the Mayo Foundation, Rochester; and David Preiser, executive director of the Minnesota Pork Producers.
The event is sponsored by the Pork Producers and the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee.
All money raised from the event goes to scholarships for local students majoring in agricultural studies.
Sponsors include: AgStar, Bank Midwest, Cargill, Dutch Creek Farms, Omega Nutrition, Kahler Automation, Profinium, Fairmont Vet Clinic, PCM, Valero Renewables, and Biofuel Energy Corp.
