One Good Steak Deserves Another

OK, that title is pretty bad, but I just had to use it.  We are at the 2014 Magnolia Blossom Festival again this year.  Megan, Will, and I really enjoyed it last year.  David would say it is just a festival.  Of course he helped hand out food at the Albemarle line and only walked around with us for about an hour.  Last year was our first experience with the Great Steak Cook-off.  It is a really neat experience.  The basic principle is a group of cookers (there were over 80 this year) are given a set number of steaks to cook.  They use their various marinades and rubs to season the lovely pieces of meat then proceed to cook them on their grills. After cooking, the steaks are taken to a judging area and then judged for the best steak.  The winners have prizes ranging up to $10,000.  The rest of the steaks are handed out to the people who purchase tickets.  Included in your ticket price is a salad, roll, baked potato, trimmings, unsweetened tea (in the South?) and a steak of your choice.  

Now you would think that getting a steak would be quite simple, really no wait in line.  Hmmm....not so!  Last year we got in line 30 minutes early and the line was 1 1/2 blocks long.  This year we were 45 minutes early and got 1 block away from the start of the line.  There are a total of five lines around the square in Magnolia, all the same length.  That is a lot of people running to get their steaks!  I think it was really fun, going around to the various grills and finding that special steak.  It is potluck, you never know if the steak you get is going to be good or not but I think that is worth the risk.  

Megan, Will and I ended up eating on the grass at the courthouse.  The city does set up tables and chairs for you to sit down and eat.  We usually get there a little late to grab a seat.  I remembered to bring my picnic blanket and we had an old fashioned picnic.  Doesn't our food look yummy?

Enough of steaks. We also enjoyed looking at the different vendors and shops on the Magnolia square. We visited Ms. Devona's booth that has some of the best cupcakes and a cookies, several that were gluten free.  Will picked a cute blue iced cookie with polka dots, Megan had a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing (gluten free), and I had a chocolate cream cheese filled cupcake with vanilla butter cream icing.  Yummy!  After walking around Megan and Will did an obstacle course and then they did a water walking thing.  Here are a couple of pictures to show how much fun they were having.

This year the Food Network was filming several in several locations this year.  Megan and I watched them film at a group tent for a few minutes after watching the puppet show at Magnolia Arts Center.  The Arts Center also had a wonderful art show.  Submissions were from all over the county and they had a wonderful variety that ranged across different media and ages.  

So for the end of my post I want to share some of the grills with you.  This cool grill looks like a steam engine.

This grill group trailer looks like a castle.

Here is a cool trailer that reminds me of a food truck.

So for my final grill, The Understeaker's take the prize.  They even performed a mock funeral for Mr. Ribeye.  So cute!

Here is poor Mr. Ribeye's headstone.  They took good care of him.

Doesn't the Blossom Festival look like fun?  Make your plans to attend and we will see you next year!