What time is it? It's Girl Scout Cookie time! National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend is officially underway. pic.twitter.com/bwziunzDRe
— Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) February 28, 2015
The love of Girl Scout cookies inspired chefs at the Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s first Cookies and Cocktails party at Harrah’s Theater. A post on NOLA.com says:
In the appetizer (savory) category, the top entry went to Chef Alan Ehrich of the Audubon Tea Room who made a smoked pork tenderloin with a Thin Mint chipotle and coffee rub over Israeli cuscus with fresh mint topped with a balsamic vinegar, apricot and thin mint reduction.
Winner of the best dessert was Pastry Chef Erin Swanson of Restaurant R’evolution who debuted a Thin Mint Mocha Panna Cotta with beignets.
The best cocktail entry was the Samoas Coconut Dream Martini created by Brianna Trosclair of Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar and Restaurant.
The people’s choice award went to Corporate Executive Chef Deanna Stephens of Winn-Dixie/BiLo Holdings for her beef short ribs braised in a Samoa cookie and Zinfandel Demi over cracked pepper grits.
Other participants included Michael Tran, Besh Steak; Chef John DelCorral and Pastry Chef Terrence Taylor, The Buffet at Harrah’s; Chef Katy Tull, Café Reconcile; Chef Austin Faucheaux, New Orleans School of Cooking; Shelly Marie Redmond, Skinny Louisiana; Victory; Krystal Archer, Bayou Beer Garden; Chef Donald Julien and Justin Bupp, Warehouse Grille; Stephanie and Scott Mattox, El Guapo Bitters; Josh Bodenweiser, World of Beer; Ken Ritter, Audubon Tea Room; Chef Brook Berry and Chef Eileen Bennett, Culinary Kids Mandeville, and Celebrity Chef, artist Terrance Osborne.
If you didn’t just immediately devour your boxes of cookies, the Girl Scouts actually offer recipes on their web site. The mostly dessert recipes can be found here.