In 2010, Strolling of the Heifers will present the Great Vermont Mac'n'Cheese Cookoff! Stay tuned for details.

In 2009, we perpetrated the Great Vermont Grilled Cheese Cookoff. Here's what happened:

The coveted Golden Spatula award, recognizing the best grilled cheese sandwich to be found in Vermont, was presented at Brattleboro's River Garden on Friday evening, June 5, 2009 to Jamie Baribeau of Vermont Seasons Fine Catering,

Click here for all the winning recipes!

The award was the culmination of the Great Vermont Grilled Cheese Cook-off, organized by Strolling of the Heifers with the aim of shining a spotlight on two of Vermont’s greatest culinary contributions to the world:  cheese and bread, along with other culinary ingredients that are produced in Vermont.  It also highlighted the creativity of New England’s chefs, food professionals and amateur grillers.

Besides taking home the grand prize trophy, Baribeau also received a prize of $200, a Hamilton Beach appliance, and major bragging rights.

In addition to the grand prize, top prizes in the amateur and professional categories were awarded as follows:

In the professional division:

• First prize — $100 and a Hamilton Beach appliance to Against the Grain Gourmet Foods
• Second and third prizes — $50 (to be split) and Hamilton Beach appliances for entries from the Putney Food Co-op, and Taylor Farm, both presented by Robyn O'Brien of the Co-op.

In the amateur division:

• First prize — $100 and a Hamilton Beach appliace to Kate Bailey of Heath, Mass.
• Second prize — $50 and a Hamilton Beach appliance to TD BankNorth of Brattleboro
• Third prize — a Hamilton Beach appliance to Jota Weeks of Brattleboro

The cook-off received sponsorship from the Vermont Cheese Council, Vermont Bread Company, Hamilton Beach Brands, the Grafton Cheese Company, Cabot and Against the Grain.

For more about Vermont's cheesemakers, please visit our "Know Your Cheesemaker" page.

Key Sponsors of the Great Vermont Grilled Cheese Cook-off:

Photo by Dan4th under Creative Commons Attribution License