MNP Week 29: A Dessertalicious Affair

On a night when desserts dominated the potluck tables, they were unceremoniously shut out of the winner's column. 

No less than six desserts made their way to the table Monday evening, all delicious in their own right. And yet their combined sweetness appeared to cancel each other out, paving the way for a relatively easy victory for Aaron Lenz's Italian Sausage Croissants. 

Croissants cruised to the win with 35 points, outpacing Regular Old Bacon and Coq a la Bierre, who finished second and third, respectively. 

Using the unlikely yet delicious combination of two underrated and outstanding representations of their food groups, Italian sausage and croissants, Italian Sausage Croissants raced out to an early lead and never looked back. Regular Old Bacon managed to put up a fight for a short time, but it was to no avail (a word, for a moment, on Bacon, which, in all honesty, was some of the most delicious bacon this humble writer has ever had the honor to taste. Some of you may decry Mr. Coleman for lack of creativity in his dish, but the sheer deliciousness of it, and the large quantities of it (it was a legit mound of bacon) render those naysayers silent).

It was Lenz's first appearance at a Monday Night Potluck, and a strong start for what promises to be a prolific potluck career. 

As always, here are the potluckers and their delicious dishes:

Frodo Baggins - Raspberry Blackberry Chocolate Chip Scones
Aaron Lenz - Italian Sausage Croissants (1st Place)
Noah Coleman - Bacon (2nd Place) (Seriously, it was just plain old bacon)
Maria Mattera - Fudge Strip Cookie "Salad"
Mia and Alex - Avocado Black Onyx Mousse
Ike and G - Pizza Bites
Jack and Chelsea - Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Seth Cohen - Coq a la Bierre (3rd Place)
Mike Spies - Bourbon Candied Bacon
Ginger Hatton - Handmade Salsa and Chips
Meghan Lovely - Caramel Pecan Bars
Vanessa Zachman - Cheerio Bars

Potluck will continue next Monday night (May 18) 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. See you there!)

The winners from left, Aaron, Noah and Seth

MNP Week 28: Cake Takes The Cake

On a mellow Monday evening, Lea Chandonnet's Better Than Basketball Cake won a decisive victory at Monday Night Potluck.

Better Than Basketball Cake (which some reports have pegged as a modification of the more well known variety, Better Than Sex Cake) recorded 32 points on the night, using a combination of delicious frosting and delightful chocolate chips to power past the competition.

Jeff Graham's Tater Tot Hot Dish posted 19 points to finish second, while Tiernan "TBaby"'s Caprese Salad finished third in a rare appearance on the podium for salads (and, come to think of it, healthyish foods in general).

With the fewest dishes entered since the first month of Monday Night Potluck's existence, Better Than Basketball Cake seized its window of opportunity Monday night. But the win comes with no asterisk, as any potluck victory is an impressive one in a town full of food pioneers. 

As always, the phenomenal potluckers and their dishes:

Maria Mattera - Veggie Pasta Salad
Jeff Graham - Tater Tot Hot Dish
TBird Spence - Just Logs
Tiernan - Caprese Salad
Lea Chandonnet - Better Than Basketball Cake
Rich and Alli - Buffalo Turkey or Teryaki Mushroom Onigiri (Rice Balls)
 

Potluck will continue next Monday night (May 11) 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. See you there!)

The championship dish  

True potluck creativity  

MNP Week 26

Monday Night Potluck gives zero forks that mud season is upon us.

Despite lowered expectations, MNP kicked off its post ski season with a bang, with 13 absurdly outstanding dishes duking it out for the prestigious honor of potluck champion. 

Red Pepper Hummus and Meatballs In Cream Sauce raced out to an early lead, only to be reeled in by a trio of delectable dishes. Drunken Ham (ham with bourbon cherry glaze), Broken Compass Ginger Pale Ale Pork Fried Rice and Sweet And Spicy Mountain Chicken quickly surpassed Hummus and Meatballs and turned the night into a three-horse race. 

Despite a terrific fight put by Pork Fried Rice (Brian Dube and Co, 36 points) and Mountain Chicken (Wendy C., 31 pionts), it was only fitting that in the end the title went to Drunken Ham (41 points), whose creator, Mike Spies, made potluck waves by taking first in his first potluck ever.

And although Dube's Pork Fried Rice fell five points short of victory, he should be commended for bringing enough pork fried rice to feed a small army. 

Congratulations to the winners (which, really, was every person in attendance) and a huge thank you to everyone who brought delicious food. The potluckers and their dishes follow:

Kevin and Kylee - Jalapeno Serrano Poppers With Bacon Cream Cheese
Erin and Jake - (Everything But The) Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad
Brett and Katie - BK Bean And Corn And Avocado Dippers
Heather W. - Pickled With A Punch
Sam H. - Raccoon Potato Chip Dip
Diny H. - Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Wendy C. - Sweet And Spicy Mountain Chicken (3rd Place) 
Janette and Doug - Meatballs In Cream Sauce
Ben Redner - Tarragon Green Beans
Caitlyn Tongish - Mac N Cheese With Steeze
Brian Dube and The Crew - Broken Compass Ginger Pale Ale Pork Fried Rice (2nd Place)
Mike Spies - Ham With Bourbon Cherry Glaze (1st Place)
Rick and Maria - Olive Confusion Red Pepper Hummus + Black Truffle Popcorn

Potluck will continue next Monday night (April 27) 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. See you there!)

MNP Week 24: Potluckers Battle Fork And Knife In Photo Finish

The 24th Monday Night Potluck provided as much drama, tension and intrigue as is possible any food-based competition.

The battle for the podium was fought with tooth and nail, and fork and knife, coming down to a rare potluck photo finish. 

In the end, Ryan and Destiny's surprise healthy victor Beet Goat Cheese Walnut Pie surged ahead to clinch a clutch win. Beet Goat Cheese Walnut Pie's 23 points narrowly edged out Linda Ralston's Bacon Wrapped Dates (20 points), Alli and Richard's Trusty Pecan Bark (19 points), Brian Munger's Crockpot Crack Chicken Sliders (18 points), Wendy and Earl's Candied Bacon (18 points) and Luke Skywalker's White Bean Chicken Chili (21 points, disqualified for Jedi mind tricks, illegal entry under a fake name and being the bartender's entry). 

As the 18th and final MNP entry and fighting disadvantages that included no bacon products, no chocolate and no candying, Beef Goat Cheese Walnut Pie rallied around each other late in the second half to overcome a seemingly insurmountable deficit.

On a night when Wisconsin blew a late lead and the national championship to Duke, it was at least one small victory for cheese. 

It was another phenomenal potluck, and we couldn't have done it without your tremendous contributions. Without further ado, the potluckers and their dishes:

Luke Skywalker (aka Dr. Buckets aka Daniel Miller-McLemore) - White Bean Chicken Chili
Casey and Kristie Clark - Cuban Sandwiches
Beth Groundwater - Crazy Craisin Triple Chocolate Brownies
Eva Schiller - Lady Bugs (points for most creative)
Bev McArthur - Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Holley Adcock - Black Bean Dip
Bill Barr - Wild Rice Casserole
Brian Munger - Crock Pot Crack Slider Chicken With Cheese
Tyler Stafsholt - Kettlecorn
John Longhill - Salmon Caesar Salad
Wendy and Earl - Candied Bacon
Maria and Carol - Veggie Orzo Tofu And Feta
Heather Wickstrom - Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bites and Raspberry Fruit Stack
Linda Ralston - Bacon Wrapped Dates (2nd Place)
Alli and RIchard - Trusty Pecan Bark (3rd Place)
Nancy - Leftover Easter Ham - Turned Asia
Bryan Etkie - Meatballs and Ziti
Destiny and Ryan - Beet Goat Cheese Walnut Pie (1st Place)

The winners: Alli and Richard (3rd, left), Destiny and Ryan (1st, middle) and Linda Ralston and fam (2nd, right) 

The grub

Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bites aka the most delectable morsel  

Potluck will continue next Monday night (April 13) 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. See you there!)

MNP Week 22: Meatballs Bring Potluck Title Back To Portugal

After a dominant run by the USA, a foreign power finally ended the American stranglehold on the Monday Night Potluck podium. 

Adam Sunderland's Portuguese Meatballs brought the MNP title back to Portugal, its 46 point effort claiming a resounding victory. 

Cathy Griffin also made waves at her first potluck, becoming the first potlucker in MNP history to take two spots on the podium. Griffin's Mud Pie (29 points) and Mighty Meaty Manicotti (24 points, and which also came with a Might Meatless version) took second and third, respectively. 

"A truly special performance for a potluck rookie," bartender Dr. Buckets said. "There's some real talent there."

But on a night that included a near-record 25 dishes, nothing could touch Portuguese Meatballs. 

"I've never been to Portugal and never had their meatballs," one anonymous potlucker said. "But this is how they've tasted in my dreams."

Once again, a huge thank you goes out to all of you who brought food for the potluck. You continue to provide the best food in Breckenridge every Monday night. Without further ado, the potluckers and their dishes:

Heather - Pecan Pie
Brittany Holloman - Sausage Balls
Danielle Tarloff - Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Joey Jansen-Hedrick - Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Katie L'estrange - White Queso
Cathy Wagner - Manicotti (3rd Place)
Cathy Wagner - Mud Pie (2nd Place)
Tiernan Spencer - Vanilla Pavlova
Jennifer Santangelo - Cream Filled Strawberries
Steve Sizemore and Kathleen Walsh - Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
Kelly Hepburn - Tater Tot Shepherds Pie
Sam Tallen and Justin Jimenez - PB Cookies
Samantha and Warren - Baby Berry Pies
Johnny Neuman - Spicy Deviled Eggs
Sam Heindel - Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread
Hayley Heindel - Veggie Pizza
Grace Gabree - Breck Distillery Bourbon Chicken and Apples
Adam Sunderland - Portuguese Meatballs (1st Place)
Sarah Jo and Allison - Sausage Cream Cheese Rollup
Chloe - Bruschetta Veggie And Prosciutto
Bo and Matt - 14 Layer Dip (Our layered dips are now in double digits. Who can hit 20?)
Maria and Rick - Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates With Prosciutto
Shelby, Ford, John and David - Cheesy Delight
Nick, Julia and Alex - Holy Moly Guacamole!
CJ and Austen - Spinach Artichoke Bacon Dip

The winners: Cathy and Adam

Packed house for potluck  

Potluck will continue next Monday night (March 30) 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. See you there!)

MNP Week 21: Moms Always Win

It's a timeless lesson in cooking (or anything, really): Moms always win.

It's impossible to pinpoint exactly why mom-cooked-meals are superior. They just are. Maybe the secret ingredient is nostalgia. Or the experience gained over years of momming. Or the extra love and care that goes into the preparation. 

Whatever the reason, Samantha and Warren put it to full use to conquer the 21st weekly Monday Night Potluck last week with My Mom's Pulled Pork, a delicious, carnivorous dish that took the better part of the previous 24 hours to prepare. Samantha credited her mother (also in attendance) with the recipe.

Mom's Pulled Pork beat out stiff competition from a number of dishes, most notably John, Shelby and Ford's Baked Bacon Mac N' Cheese (a cousin of last week's winner) and Paula and Tom's Sweeeeeeeet Potato Casserole (extra E's added by author to emphasize that, holy hell, this casserole crazy sweet), which placed second and third, respectively. Justin's Smoked Salmon, a true revelation in its own right, narrowly missed the podium, finishing just two points behind Sweeeeeeeeet Potato Casserole. 

But despite the plethora of delicious foods loading the table, the result was really never in question. Don't mess with Moms. 

As always, a huge thank you goes out to all who brought food and made it another successful and delicious MNP. You rock. Here's the potluckers and their foods:

Warren and Samantha - My Mom's Pulled Pork (1st Place)
Lunds - My Dad's Guac (the lesson, again: Moms always win)
Finns - Browkie (which, I believe, was a combo cookie-brownie that was so gooey it should have just been scooped up with your bare hands. In other news, I loved it)
Heather and Linda - Wild Elk Chili 
Nancy Redner - Chinese Almond Salad
Aaron Redner - Red's St. Paddy's Cookies
Derek Snook - Tater Tot Hot Dish 
Scarlet Jones - Meatballs
Tessa Neal - Mediterranean Salad
Isabelle - Chicken Oriental Salad
Brian Munger - Sticky Honey Lime Chicken Wings
Kathy Munger - Peanut Butter Pie (which combined two of my absolute favorite things into one of my absolute favorite thing)
Paula and Tom - Sweeeeeeeeet Potato Casserole (3rd Place)
Grant Robinson - Pigs On A Date (which wins the award for "Most Creative Name")
Maggie Vander Pol - Avocado Tomato Salad
John, Shelby and Ford - Baked Bacon Mac N Cheese (2nd Place)
Buck Beatrous - Chicken Parm
Justin - Smoked Salmon
Rick and Maria - St. Paddy's Pasta

MNP Week 20: Smokin Maple Bacon Mac N Cheese Smokes Competition

Monday night witnessed a record-breaking potluck performance. 

Team Brovenyark's Smokin Maple Bacon Mac N Cheese didn't just break records, but shattered them, taking 20th Monday Night Potluck victory with ease in a 61 point effort.  

The nostalgia of classic macaroni and cheese, coupled with a preparation process that included candying bacon in a heavy dose of maple syrup, then pureeing it into a sauce that included pepperjack cheese, cream cheese and most likely a myriad of other cheeses that I couldn't pinpoint as I deliriously scooped handfuls of cheesy, bacony goodness towards my face (um, this didn't actually happen), was almost a surefire way to place at MNP. (Does that sentence make sense? I still can't tell. In other news, I need an editor)

But to obliterate what was once again a delicious field, almost doubling the points of second place Cheesy Jalapeno Grits (which, unfortunately, I did not get to try. Which, in retrospect, is probably a good thing, since intaking any more cheese might just stop my heart immediately), is truly an impressive feat on the level of the 1996 Bulls or the 1929 Yankees. 

Julia and Team's Cheesy Jalapeno Grits' 36 points was good enough for second, while Alli Langley's Orzo With Root Veggies And Goat Cheese rounded out the top three with 32 points. 

A final shout out goes to Kathy Munger's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake, which finished outside the top three but made this writer's life complete. 

Once again, thanks to all who helped make Monday another amazing potluck. The 18 potluckers and their dishes are as follows:

Braum - Swiss Chicken SQ's
Kathy Munger - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake (aka one of the greatest dessert's this writer has ever tasted and it's a damn shame it didn't place top three)
Team Brovenyark - Smokin Maple Bacon Mac N Cheese (1st Place)
Sara and Erin - Goat Cheeze Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Bites
Melissa Chiella - Southwest Salad
Julie Meloy - Chicken Chili
Seth Cohen - Chicken Friend Steak Bites With Chocolate Coffee Stout Gravy
Kate Step.....I'm sorry, I just can't read the rest of your name - Cookies And Popcorn
Paul Ahern and Co - Japanese Curry Rice
Warren and Samantha - Poutine Poppers
Jason Lederer - Roasted Veggie Awesomeness
Sam and Elliot - Fluff! (disclaimer, this was not the marshmellow fluff that I grew up making peanut butter and fluff sandwiches with. Yes, I've been eating terribly unhealthily my entire life. Thanks Mom and Dad.)
Julia and Team - Cheesy Jalapeno Grits (2nd Place)
Nancy and Ben Redner - PIZZA
Alli Langley - Orzo With Root Veggies And Goat Cheese (3rd Place)
Nick Schaffer - Red Chicken Curry
Zach - Deviled Eggs
Anna, Alex and Ellen - Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Potluck will continue next Monday night (March 16) 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. See you there!)

The winners: Team Brovenyark (middle), Julia (left) and Alli  

Prepared potluckers with their own plates

MNP Week 18: A Dessertalicious Affair

Monday night was a potluck for sweet teeth. 

With two incredible desserts dominating the pallets and polls and four desserts causing potluckers to return to the buffet line simply for a "dessert plate" (wait, am I the only one who did that?) the sugar highs were real and unchecked.

In the end, it was Michael M.'s Oreo Ice Cream Dessert that came out on top, recording 31 points to narrowly edge out Laura and Jessi's Pumpkin Mousse Dessert and Nick Shaffer's slightly-less-sweet-and-probably-healthier Avo-Eggplant Parmigiano, who tied for second with 27 points. Rick and Maria's Jersey Sliders With Stuffed Mushrooms narrowly missed making it a three-way tie, finishing third with 26 points. 

Oreo Ice Cream Dessert wasted no time pushing its sugary goodness onto pallets, served with a note to "eat fast or I'll melt," but was unable to shake free of the competition. Pumpkin Mousse Dessert, served in mini cups of pumpkin cheesecake, whipped cream, graham crackery deliciousness (and of which at least four mini cups may have found their way into my refrigerator for a short time before being devoured as I wrote this blog because I have no self-control and because they are a true revelation) refused to go quietly into the night.

But in the end, nothing could stop the force that was Oreo's mixed with dairy products, a time-tested combination that will forever hold a place in the hearts of every man and woman who once dipped an Oreo into a cold glass of milk (which, let's face it, is basically everyone).

Michael M. credited his mother with the recipe for his first potluck victory, and was already planning his next dish as he filled up his winner's growler. 

As always, thanks to all who braved the snowy conditions Monday night to join us for another awesome potluck! The potluckers and their delicious dishes:

Laura and Jessi - Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse (T-2nd Place)
Penny, Julia, KT - Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding
Brian Munger - Butternut Squash Lasagna
Benny - Deviled Eggs With Garlic Bread
Michael M. - Oreo Ice Cream Dessert (1st)
Tiernan - Black Bean Salsa
Kathleen and Steve - Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Nick Shaffer - Avo-Eggplant Parmeggiano (T-2nd)
Samantha and Warren Rixon - Cookie Bark
Adam Spencer - Caprese Salad
Rick and Maria - Jersey Sliders With Stuffed Mushrooms (3rd)
Jake - Chicken Parm
John Holdos - Chili Verde

Potluck will continue next Monday night (March 2nd) 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. See you there!)