The 2nd Quasi-Annual, National River Rally Dutch Oven Cook Off

The Rules | Information of Interest | Register to Cook | Apply to Judge

The 2nd Quasi-Annual, National River Rally Dutch Oven Cook Off will take place on Saturday evening – during the traditional River Rally BBQ. Participants and spectators will have ample time to grab their dinner during the competition. The meals cooked during the Cook Off will likely not provide ample food to completely feed participants, judges or spectators.

THE RULES*

All participants must be registered for the River Rally.
You must provide your own Dutch Oven / utensils / recipes / ingredients / bribes, etc.
All dishes must be cooked with charcoal (i.e., no gas stoves, microwaves or other such modern devices).
Charcoal will be provided by The Organizer.
Ingredients must be similar to those you would have on the 5th day of a typical river trip. Typical implies that you are not boating through fields of bean sprouts or through prime salmon habitat.
Dishes must serve at least eight (preferably more).
Your team must register in advance. Deadline for registration is May 15, 2007. Last-minute substitutions are allowed. Only good-natured, fun-loving, go-with-the-flow, debaucherous, river-types need enter. No wankers, please. There is no entry fee, but The Organizer will happily take donations of Adult Beverages before, during and after the event.
Unlike other competitions of prestige and formality, The Organizer is not prohibited from entering, competing in, rigging or winning the event.
No more than two to a team. You need not be experienced to enter; in fact, The Organizer prefers to compete against novices.
All dishes should be ready for judging by 7:30pm
There is no limit to the number of teams that can enter. Team names are required; team uniforms are encouraged; team whining is right out.
Judging is completely subjective.
Foul-play is not encouraged; bribing judges is not considered “foul”.
Intentional sabotage of other’s dishes for one’s own self-promotion is grounds for immediate disqualification and may result in public humiliation (though, we acknowledge that “accidents happen” and we definitely reserve the right to still consume your dish). Calls for disqualification will be reviewed by a panel of your peers.
Participants acknowledge that things on fire – such as red coals – are hot and should not be touched by the skin of mere mortals.
Friendly taunting of fellow cook-offers is strongly encouraged.
Cook-off will take place regardless of weather.
By entering, you agree to help clean up after the event AND you understand both the judging system and the prize system AND agree to play by all said rules. Rules subject to change without notice.

*okay, they’re more like “guidelines”

INFORMATION OF INTEREST

THE JUDGING

Judges will be selected at random from a pool of interested River Rally participants and/or The Organizer’s close friends.
All judges will be asked to complete an application and commit to tasting all entered dishes for the category they are judging. Those with common allergies (i.e., dairy, nuts, wheat, etc.) or food aversions should apply at their own risk.
Entries will roughly be judged upon:
- Quality of Taste and Bribes (50%)
- Creative use of ingredients and full use of Dutch Oven properties (20%)
- Presentation of entry (10%)
- Presentation of team (5%)
- Simplicity (of the dish…not the team) (10%)
- Sportsmanship (of the team…not the dish) (5%)
Judges may not enter the competition.

THE PRIZE

A yet-to-be determined and possibly non-existent, highly coveted prize of some sort….or not.
Bragging Rights for One Quasi Year.
Acknowledgement at the River Heroes Banquet.
Increased odds that you will be invited on a future river trip…as the cook.

OTHER

Shopping for ingredients:
If possible, please bring all ingredients with you. However, The Organizer of this event realizes this request may not be realistic and thus will work to provide – at not extra charge – an alternative. On Saturday, immediately after the completion of the final River Rally workshop, there will be a van headed into town for a quick shopping trip. You must sign-up in advance for this service. Please, to allow for all to take advantage of this premier service, send one team member only. Organizer can not guarantee that necessary ingredients will be available in town and is thus, not responsible (in general, but also for any missing ingredients).

Dutch Ovens
It is not always practical to fly with Dutch Ovens…as they should not be left unattended in the cargo bay and because contents in the overhead compartment do indeed shift and can sometimes fall on the head of the person who unbuckles his seatbelt before the plane comes to a complete stop at the gate and the captain has turned off the “fasten seatbelt” sign. As such, The Organizer is willing to attempt, without any guarantees, to procure Dutch Ovens for use at the 2nd Quasi-Annual, National River Rally Dutch Oven Cook Off. If you are interested in competing, but do not have a Dutch Oven to use, please contact Katherine Luscher, kluscher@rivernetwork.org.

Time/Place:
Saturday, May 19, 2007. The “Fire Pit” by the Pavilion. Follow the signs, the smells or the laughter.

Questions?
Contact Katherine Luscher | 503.542.8384.

REGISTRATION FOR COOKS

Please submit the following information, via email, to Katherine Luscher no later than May 10th. She will confirm reciept of the information and provide you with more information.

Team Name:
Team Participants:
Contact Information:
Do you need a Dutch Oven provided for you? If so, what is your preferred size? (note: no guarantees, here):
Will you need a ride to the store prior to the event on Saturday?:
Have you read and do you agree to follow “The Rules”?:
Any other comments?

APPLICATION TO JUDGE

Please submit the following information, via email, to Katherine Luscher no later than May 1st. She will confirm reciept of your application, and after careful consideration, select and inform the judges of their duty.

Name:
Group:
State:
Email:
Phone:

Questions to Assist with Determining the Best Possible Judges for the 2nd Quasi-Annual, National River Rally Dutch Oven Cook Off

Please describe you fondest Dutch Oven memory or fantasy.
As a judge, what asset would you bring to The 2nd Quasi-Annual, National River Rally Dutch Oven Cook Off?
Do your morals and/or values prohibit you from benefiting from acts of bribery? If no, please describe the type of bribery to which you are most susceptible.
Please provide any other information about yourself that may assist us with the selection of our judges for the 2nd Quasi-Annual, National River Rally Dutch Oven Cook Off.

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