The heartier foods of fall were the basis of the competition when the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) met for their monthly meeting at Restaurant La Mision on Monday, November 9.
Members competed in the comfort food main dish or the pie, tart and cobbler category.
While James Wayne, Ann Szarka and Chef Andrew Robertson judged the best tasting dishes and those most artistically presented, Donna Blackburn presented the monthly program, demonstrating how to carve a turkey and then separating white and dark meat and the dressing on a platter.
In the comfort food category, first place went to Jose Fernandez for his chicken with garlic and roast ratatouille. The second place nod went to Monique Grossman for her tourtiere with five meats and potato topping. Avril Stephenson took third for her steak and kidney pie.
In the dessert section of the competition, there was a tie for first place between Carole Wolff’s chocolate walnut pie and Collette Clavadetscher’s lemon crunch pie. Second place went to Judith Greenberg’s rainbow fruit tart.
CASA members will hold a special holiday meeting at Manix Restaurant on Monday, December 14, when the competition categories will be botanas and appetizers or holiday desserts.