How many guests?

The number of guests changes every year.  2025 is a large event because we missed out all the events over COVID, and is the first year we are starting b ack up again.

For 2025, we expect there to be between 20 to 25 people.

Ideally please make small portions for your dish, as people will have a lot of dishes to taste test and score.  Don't worry to much if that is difficult.

 

2025 Secret Ingredient

  •  Lemon :  Each dish must contain lemon, or lemon flavoring, or have a side with lemon

What To Bring

 

  •  Food Dish :  Traditionally each guest brings their own dish, however couples have often brought a single dish prepared together, and it is okay not to bring anything if it doesn't work this year.  There is always lots of food for everyone.
  • Cell Phone:   will be used for recording scores for the dishes.  If you don't have a cell phone, don't worry, you can use someone else's, and we will have screens to enter scores if you need.
  • Serving Utensils:  it is handy to bring serving utensils with your dish.  We do have lots of serving utensils, but not enough for every dish.
  • We will have lots of paper plates, plastic cuts, and plastic utensils for you to put your dish on.  No need to bring any unless you have a reason you want to bring your own.

About Allergies

  • Pineapple
  • Alcohol (some people driving,others with medicine reactions)

Only people who taste your dish can give you a score, so it is best to avoid allergens, or give people with allergies an option to have it.

PLEASE ANNOUNCE CLEARLY TO EVERYONE IF YOUR DISH HAS AN ALLERGEN ON THIS LIST.

 

Dress Code

Anything goes.   Feel free to wear casual, dressy, fancy, ugly, or costume parts.  Fun is good, and if something puts you into the Christmas spirit, wear it.

Each year there is a large variety of dress at the event.

There will be some light hearted things handed out for people to wear as well

Scoring

Each dish will be judged by each participant using a form updated from their cell phone.  Scores will be given out for :

Taste (0-10):    10 is the best.   Each year there are lots of tasty dishes.  Good luck.

Presentation (0-10):   This is not only how good your dish looks, but also how well you promote your dish.    Unbashful boasting is encouraged.   Please try to keep your presentation to 60 seconds, however more time is okay if only a few people do that.   Fun is appreciated by all.  Be creative.

Originality (0-10):  Creativity is in the eye of the beholder.    This score was originally about how creative the dish is, but has evolved to be more and includes a creative presentation.  People in the past have used colors, costumes, rare dishes, or dishes from other cultures.  This score is meant to encourage unique ideas .. anything goes... have fun with it.

 

Note:  In the past only people who eat your dish will score it, so that is another reason to avoid allergens.   We have a contingency plan, that if the size and portions are too large to expect people to eat some of every dish, then we might change the scoring method to average score instead of the usual total score.

Prizes

There prizes are:

  • Overall Winner : gets to pick next years secret ingredient.
  • Best Savoury Dish :  A fun little gift, and immense bragging rights
  • Best Sweet Dish : A fun little gift, and even more immense bragging rights.

Location

2008 - 104 st NW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6J 5A8

Schedule

5:30 pm Arrival and setup

Plan to arrive around 5:30 PM to get settled and set up your culinary masterpiece. If you're running late, aim to be here by 5:45 PM, but remember, the early bird catches the best spot! Please bring your own serving utensils if you can! 

 

Each participant's entry needs to be entered onto the scoring sheet, and  arriving before 6pm helps us do that.

6:00pm Judging commences

At 6:00 PM, the moment of truth arrives! Our esteemed panel (that's all of you!) will begin judging the delicious entries. Remember, this year's secret ingredient is Lemon, so keep an eye (and a taste bud) out for creative uses of this citrusy surprise!

8:00pm Scoring and Prizes

Around 8:00 PM, the scores will be tallied, and the winners of both the best sweet and best savoury dishes will be announced! Get ready to cheer on your favourites and maybe even take home a prize yourself!

8:30pm Christmas tree event

To cap off the evening, around 8:30 PM, we'll gather around the Christmas tree for some festive fun, including maybe some Christmas carols, and short fun games after the big competition!