I started this week's episode with a whine/rant about judging cooking competitions. But all Nancy Leson had to do was say "Archie McPhee" and "cooking contest" in the same sentence and I was sold.
"I can step right in here, Stein, and tell you about judging the only cooking contest that I'm willing to do – Sticknics at Archie McPhee World Headquarters." It's a cooking contest just for McPhee staff, Nancy explained, "Judged on taste, presentation, and 'stickness' – how the food lends itself to staying on, and being eaten off, a stick."
She then confirmed my assumption that Jell-O in any form was a non-starter.
It's the kind of fun you'd expect from the madcaps at Archie McPhee, a local company creating and selling hilariously nutball novelties worldwide. I myself owe a great debt of gratitude to founder and CEO Mark Pahlow who years ago turned me on to Louis C.K. and his observation that "the meal isn't over when I'm full; the meal is over when I hate myself."
And the Winnah Is...
Now that's the way a cooking contest ought to be.
"The second mouse gets the cheese." – Willie Nelson
