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Between Friday at Gerald R Ford Middle School and Saturday at Garfield Park, nearly 80 folks came together for the  the Greens Cook-off & Fried Green Tomato Festival. The food was delicious! In addition to tasting the cook-off entries, the crowd got to fill up on Chef Nancy Rutledge’s green tomato cake, fried green tomatoes, green tomato chow chow, collards and more. She and her assistant, Spencer, prepared most of the dishes  as the crowd watched–and learned.

On Friday, the evening fun took off with a DJ and dancing–it was a real party atmosphere for folks of all ages.

Our “celebrity” judges included Dr. Brad Mathis, Dr. Andola Mathis, Ms. Stephanie Pierce from the Grand Rapid African American Health Institute, Ms. Penda Childrey  and City Commissioner, Elias Lumpkin.

Our winners were:

FIRST PLACE – Ms. Arlene Davis, Cabbage & Greens

SECOND PLACE – Ms. Anne Reaser, Collards

THIRD PLACE – Rosaia Woodard, Salsa Collard Greens

Honorable mention goes to Ms. Margie Butts, Curried Garden Greens; Liseia Woodard, Garlicky Green Tomato Salsa; and  Flavia De la Cruz, Beans & Rice.