President-Elect Jamie Brown sports her waffle costume with the Montgomery Biscuit Maker and Big Mo!
By Gerri Miller
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Grandview YMCA Winners.
More than 225 people came to support Saturday’s Alabama Waffle Cook-off and proved that if you provide great food, a worthy cause and a fun time, they will come. Even in rainy weather – they will come.
The Prattville Millbrook Sunrise Rotary Club held its first Waffle Cook-off in meeting rooms underneath the Lanark/Alabama Nature Center. The event was moved from the outdoor pavilion due to the threat of rain.
So, what is a Waffle Cook-off? It’s a group of cook teams preparing their version of the best waffle combination. The Rev. Janet Krantz of Robinson Springs United Methodist Church called it “Waffles in the Woods” Saturday morning.
“I like to call it Waffles in the Woods because it was at our Millbrook treasure-AWF (Alabama Wildlife Federation),” Krantz said. “Turns out the walk through the woods to get to the waffles paid off, ‘cause those waffles were delicious and I ate plenty!”
There were the most creative recipes imaginable-from Christmas Dinner Waffles to Snicker Doodle Waffles. The winner in the Chicken and Waffles category was the Grandview YMCA with their Popcorn Chicken Stuffed Waffles Dish.
The Waffles with Jazz Category could include any waffles that had toppings. The winner in this category was Butterfly Bridge with its Cinnamon Roll Waffles.
Waffles-Plain included any waffles that had their secret ingredients stuffed inside of them or were part of the recipe. There was originally a tie in this category between the Grandview YMCA’s Red Velvet Waffles and the AWF Team 1’s Praline Syrup Waffles. The judges then determined the Grandview YMCA to be the winner. Winners all received big trophies and $100 gift certificates.
Cook teams participating in the event included: MAX Credit Union; Alabama Wildlife Federation; Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center; Millbrook Cub Scout Pack 191; Central Alabama Electric Cooperative; Central Access; Waffle House; Grandview YMCA; and Church at the Brook.
There was a DJ, T-shirts and even a visit by Big Mo and “The Baker” from the Montgomery Biscuits Baseball Team.
AWF Executive Director and club member Tim Gothard said the turnout was great in spite of the weather. He said the proceeds from the event will go in the Rotary Club’s Grant Fund. Twice a year, the organization takes grant requests and funds groups that support youth, senior citizens and people in need.
“I think we had great support from our community as well as some of the charities we support,” Gothard said. “It really is about people giving of their time and efforts to help great organizations in our community. At Rotary, we call it Service Above Self.”
Judges for the event included: Club President Glen Easter; Bob Plaster of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries; Mark Wade with Chappy’s Deli Prattville; Matthew Barber with River Bend Veterinary Clinic; Glenn Mize with Prattville Baptist Hospital; and Harvey Starling with Fishers of Men Alabama Central Division.
Sponsors included: Central Alabama Electric Cooperative; Cental Access; Alabama Wildlife Federation; Warren Averett; Country Financial; First Community Bank; MAX Credit Union; S & T Consultants; Roy & Elaina McAuley; Waffle House; Ingram State Technical College; Joe & Tricia Mathis; Garner Electric; Bill & Dianne Morgan; Joel Chance – Architect; Church at the Brook; Glen & Susan Easter; David Walters; Don Duncan’s All-American Auto and Tire; Trustmark Bank; Prattville Baptist Hospital; Jerry & Wendy Hanshaw; C.W. Smith Decorating Co; Rueben Construction Co; Real Estate Southeast; Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce; Strock Insurance Agency; and EyeCare Plus.
See more photos of winners and participants below.
