A potluck of epic proportions took place at Broken Compass on Monday night, with a record 32 dishes (32!) weighing down the brewery tables on a Halloween-themed potluck.
With so much delicious food, palates and stomachs were stretched to the limit.
"I don't even know what I'm eating anymore," said one delirious potlucker who wished to remain anonymous. "But it's all blowing my mind."
That potlucker spoke for nearly everyone in attendance Monday night. But on Monday Night Potluck's most competitive night in history, four dishes separated themselves from the pack.
Mr. Dracula's Pumpkin Cake (made by Lana McLaughlin), whose creamy, pumpkiny, deliciousness cannot be exaggerated, dominated the Halloween/Pumpkin category, while Chelsie's Monster Mash Hot Dish cleaned up in the general voting, posting an impressive 49 points en route to a 20-point victory margin.
It was fortunate that potluckers did not have to choose between the Monster Mash and Mr. Dracula, as the ensuing cage match between the two would have been gruesome and resulted in something lesser than the sum of their parts.
Nick and the House's Butter Chicken And Rice Curry narrowly claimed second place, using potluck veteran guile to edge out Barbara Wolitzky's Sweet/Sour Meatballs by three points. And yet, in a 32 dish potluck, Meatballs' third place finish is impressive in it's own right.
As always, a gigantic thanks goes out to all the chef's who graced our tables with your delicious cooking. It's always amazing to see what you guys can bring, and how much of it. Here's the potluckers and their dishes:
Blake Schwalls - Beef Enchilada Casserole
Rebekah Stackhole - Poached Eggs On Quinoa And Veggies
Russ Schissler - Apple Rose Pastry Puff
Patty Copps - Pumpkin Cheese Bread
Barbara Wolitzky - Sweet/Sour Meatballs (3rd Place)
Karlie McLaughlin - Graveyard Lasagna
Lana McLaughlin - Mr's Dracula's Pumpkin Cake (Halloween/Pumpkin Winner!)
BJ and Bob Cassidy - Meatloaf Hand/Potatoes (easily wins points for most creative presentation, see picture below)
Claudia Richardson - Chorizo Chili
Tami Koenig - Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll
Maria Mattera - Scary Pumpkin Bread
Chelsie - Monster Mash Hot Dish (1st)
Abbe G. - Ghoulish Pasta Salad
Ronda Westhoff - Pumpkin Green Chile
Katie Medina - Raspberry Brownies (somehow I didn't get this, my life is over)
Annika Ledbetter - Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Tessa and Patrick - Tomato Cobbler With Basil Biscuit Crust
Katie Goncalves - Pumpkin (something I can't read, but was totally delicious)
Marian Anderson - Fruit And Delicious Dip
Marc Anderson - Paleo Bison Meatloaf With Homemade Ketchup
Kim Haller - Smore Bites
Candy Eherson - Apple/Sausage Pumpkin Bake
Megan McCulloch - Prosciutto Pumpkin Pizza
Emily Jones - Raspberry Brie Massacre
Erin Vander Veen - Vanilla Pumpkin Dip
Darcy Brickehoff - Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
JT and Lucy and Mia - Stuffed Mushrooms With Bacon And Cream Cheese
Ryan Helle and Natalie Casey - Pumpkin Cinnamon Cream Cheese
Kelsey Miller - Buff Chicken Garabag Bread
Nick and Da House - Butter Chicken and Rice Curry (2nd)
The potluck champs
Best dish presentation
Potluck will continue next Monday night (Nov. 2) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. We can't wait to see what you bring next!
(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint and glass. See you there!)