Men Who Grill

T.Bo’s Last Stand takes People’s Choice Award;
La Plata Family Medicine wins Judges’ Choice

Vectra Bank representative Angelia Cook hands the T.Bo's Last Stand team a check for $250 for winning the People's Choice Award. The generous grillers donated the check back to the Women's Resource Center! T.Bo's also won the Golden Spatula Award for Best Cuisine. Click on the image above to see more photos from Men Who Grill.

PLATINUM SPONOSR:
99X-American General Media

GOLD SPONSORS:
BP
Steamworks Brewery

BRONZE SPONSORS:
C&J Gravel
Dental Associates of the Southwest
Durango Urgent Care
Southwest Appliances
Vectra Bank
Zukes

More than 500 attend event, including teams, volunteers, patrons

From smoked brisket with tequila sauce and mango to the grilled shrimp served with spicy watermelon soup, the food at the 9th annual Men Who Grill Culinary Competition and Fund-Raiser for the Women’s Resource Center was the best ever, according to the judges and patrons who attended the event on June 2.

“The quality, taste, and variety of entries really jumped up a notch,” said one grill team member. “We love being part of the competition.”

Fourteen teams competed for the People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice Awards, which each came with a $250 cash prize courtesy of Vectra Bank. The judges, including United Way of Southwest Colorado Executive Director Tim Walsworth, Durango Herald reporters Ann Butler and Ted Holteen, and Marsh Bull, board member with the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, voted for La Plata Family Medicine’s grilled beef tenderloin as the Judges’ Choice Award. Dr. Jordan Loftis, who headed the grill team, graciously donated the $250 check to the Women’s Resource Center. Loftis had lots of help, he admitted. His wife, Dr. Lauren Loftis, prepared their secret sauces, while Jordan’s dad, John Loftis, grilled their tenderloin to perfection. Other team memers included Trent Woods, Megan Sarder, Brice Matthews, Savanah Barr, Linda Geer, Bernie Romero, and Reanan Wright.

More than 500 patrons, volunteers and grill team members filled the block in front of BuzzTown.com and The Durango Herald, and of those who were there, 308 voted for the People’s Choice Award. Winner was T.Bo’s Last Stand, a team that included Bo Maloney from J.Bo’s Pizza and Ribs and Chris Martin from T’s Smokehouse. Their entry included pulled pork with an Asian cucumber slaw, grilled beef with asparagus, and grilled shrimp served with a cup of spicy watermelon soup. Maloney and Martin also donated their prize money to the Women’s Resource Center. Other team members included Zach Williams, Liz Cartier, Betsy and Bob Maloney, and Chris Martin. T.Bo’s Last Stand was sponsored by First National Bank.

For many of the teams at Men Who Grill, the event started well before Saturday. Bank of Colorado team members started smoking their brisket on Friday and stayed up into the wee hours of Saturday morning in preparation. The cooking party earned Bank of Colorado the Team Spirit Award.

Team 99X, featuring KPTE Program Director Cody Kopp, Sales Manager Dena Brickey, Admin Assistant Paula Wiesal, on-air deejays Jymmy Haddon and Nick Kopp won the Star Power Award for consistently serving up great grilled goodies since 1996, when Men Who Grill was the Men Who Cook competition. The team also won the Grilling Under the Influence Award, not because of inebriation, but because they topped their smoked and grilled brisket with a tequila sauce and a slice of mango. Their secret weapon? Grill master Ty Henderson, said Kopp.

Steamworks Brewing served up cold beer while patrons gobbled grilled goodies to the music of the Kirk James Blues Band.

“This has to be one of the best Men Who Grill events ever,” said WRC Executive Director Liz Mora. “Every team was just awesome. Quite a few people have either e-mailed me or called me to say how much they enjoyed the event. We are truly thankful and grateful for all the sponsors, grill teams, and volunteers who made this event possible.”

This year’s culinary competition and fund-raiser generated more than $13,500 in revenues for the Women’s Resource Center, revenues that will be used to keep the Center’s doors open five days a week to women who need help finding community resources to take care of themselves and their families. That’s what makes the Women’s Resource Center so special, said Mora.

“You don’t need an appointment nor do you need to qualify for our services. Any woman, no matter who she is, can walk in our door at any time, and we’ll be here to help her find the resources she needs to get back on the road to economic self-sufficiency,” she said.

Next year’s Men Who Grill will be on Saturday, June 1.