It must be said: the 2nd Annual Villy Presents: Taste Of The City Cookoff on February 8th was the most electrifying food event I’ve ever been to.
From the first moment DJ Nubran began his set until the doors finally closed, the Yak and Yeti event center was jumping. But then again, when you’ve got banging hip-hop as the soundtrack to a meal centered around some of the best soul food from Colorado, what else could you expect?
From soup to nuts (no pun intended), Villy was the ultimate hostess and kept the party alive. Her energy was so infectious that some of the vendors with tables—namely Kustom Kups by “K” and JB Butters—were up and dancing along to the beat on multiple occasions.
Between the nine chefs competing for a $500 cash prize (along with bragging rights) and a few other restaurants with tables selling their own culinary options, you could not leave the building with an empty stomach.
The foods available were on another level. From soul food tacos to cannabis-infused cheesecake, all the offerings were on point. In fact, everything was so good that I did not envy the judges one bit.
With three rounds comprised of appetizers, main courses, and desserts, each judge would vote on a scale of 1-10 for each dish presented. One thing I really liked about the setup was how they kept favoritism to a minimum by swapping out the judges after each course, while also making it a blind tasting (with each contestant being given a number while sequestered upstairs).
At the end of the night, the combined totals were calculated with one chef reigning supreme–Fyee Plates by Portia featuring chef Portia Nicole.
Her combination of Jerk Chicken Empanadas w/Jerk Sauce, Oxtail Pineapple Bowl w/Cajun Rice and Smothered Green Beans, and Peach Cobbler Poundcake w/Peach Sauce enamored the judges enough to secure a victory. With that said, as delicious as her food was and worthy of recognition, my personal favorites went in a slightly different direction.
“Rose Wings” (Humble Rose Catering)– With a trio of meats stacked on my plate that included ribs, andouille sausage, and the “Rose Wing,” I was kind of surprised that the chicken ended up being the star of the show. Though the chicken had clearly been slow-cooked–making it incredibly juicy with fall-off-the-bone tenderness–the rub used to season it with had a pronounced citrus flavor with herbaceous overtones. This brightness contrasted with the all-day depth of flavor and took the wing to a place of the sublime.
Buffalo Egg Roll (Queen Pressure)–
Crispy on the outside with a melt-in-your-mouth interior, the buffalo egg roll from Queen Pressure was a textural extravaganza. And the flavor was just as incredible to boot. Salty and spicy, it held every element I look for in good buffalo chicken. When I realized that the hot sauce was an original creation–no generic Frank’s Red Hot here–I knew I was enjoying buffalo chicken that was truly unique. It’s hard sometimes to elevate a classic, but that’s exactly what Queen Pressure did.
Loaded Baked Potato with Pulled Ham and Brussels Sprouts (Wayne’s Firey Fusion)–
Yes, you read that right; pulled ham. Being someone who has eaten an absurd amount of pulled pork in my life, surprisingly, it had never crossed my mind to try that same method of cooking with ham. I have to admit that after trying this dish from Wayne’s Firey Fusion, I don’t know if I want it any other way. Between the crispy exterior that was glazed in honey and the saltiness that happens during the aging process, the ham had the perfect balance of sweet and salty. When combining the earthiness and pop of heat found in the brussels sprouts to the mix, the dish had a harmony of flavors that were unmatched.
When it comes to parties, Villy is on to something.
Any time I review an event, I try to encapsulate everything that I experienced. From the sights and sounds to the general vibe, I want you to feel like you’re there. Unfortunately for me, there’s no way I can properly express the levels of fun that was had during the cookoff—it was that much of a blast.
So please, when the next Taste of the City Cookoff rolls around, mark it on your calendar. I promise it will be a festivity you’ll never forget.
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