Winning Dish: Tequila Rabbit (To Killa Rabbitt)
MONTGOMERY–Coosa River Trifecta, Smoked Quail over Rice with Piney Woods Lodge Tomato Gravy, and Smoked Caribou were some of the tasty dishes served up to close to 300 people at the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s (AWF) Wild Game Cook-Off State Finals held at AWF’s headquarters in Millbrook Saturday, August 6, 2016. This championship event is a combination of winners from the over 300 cook teams from regional events held throughout the year. Twelve teams were there to win the coveted State Champion Title, not to mention the $1,000 grand prize that goes along with it!
The judges, Jake Carlton, Wind Creek General Manager; Jimmy Gray, Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Central Alabama Electric Coop; Art Leadingham, owner of Leadingham Rogers, LLC, and Freddy Padilla, Alabama Power Company Governmental and Corporate Affairs had a tough time, but in the end winners from the Madison County Cook-Off, Bootlegg BBQ, including Mike and Kedia Page placed first with their delicious To Killa Rabbit. In the last 10 years, Bootlegg BBQ is only team to be awarded top honors of AWF Wild Game Cook-Off Champions twice!
1st Place – Bootlegg BBQ (Madison Cook-Off) Team: Mike Page, Kedia Page
Second Place Winner from the Guntersville Cook-Off, Spices Smokehouse including Robert Entrekin, Lynn Entrekin, Tee Rice and Kay Rice placed with their delicious Seafood Pie. Third Place Winner, People’s Choice Award and Best Presentation Award from the Talladega Cook-Off, Chonita’s Cookers including Mark & Severa McGrady, Angel & Joey Davis and Maria placed with their delicious Elk Cheesesteak Eggroll. Best Presentation Runner-Up went to Team Advantage.
In addition to the great food, there was a silent auction, raffle and entertainment provided by Rob Thornhill.
The purpose of AWF Wild Game Cook-Offs is to supply a place for AWF members to interact, for non-members to learn more about AWF, and to provide the opportunity to raise funds to support AWF and its programs and projects. The Cook-Offs also demonstrate that sportsmen/women utilize the wild game and fish they harvest and cook it with care, skill and expertise to produce great table fare.
Media Release/MARLA RUSKIN, Communications Specialist
Alabama Wildlife Federation
