Bacon Lovers Celebrate at 3rd Annual Throwdown
Chef Katie Proffer with Blue Cake Company shows off her chocolate bacon petit fours.
| Nov. 9, 2015| Bacon enthusiasts sampled everything from bacon cotton candy to bacon cinnamon twists at the third annual Rock Town Bacon Throwdown held Oct. 24.
The event was hosted by the UAMS Medical Center Auxiliary’s Aux Crew to raise money for the UAMS Patient Support Fund, which supports programs at UAMS. It was held at War Memorial Stadium.
Chef Scott Rains of Table 28 was selected by a panel of judges as the overall winner for the third year in a row.
Hundreds of people sampled unique dishes provided by creative chefs from a dozen local restaurants. The bacon cotton candy was from Cache and the bacon cinnamon twists from YaYa’s Euro Bistro. There were also slightly-more traditional bacon samples, like pizza from Damgoode Pies and bacon-garnished pimento cheese from Boulevard Bread.
A panel of judges selected as the overall winner Chef Scott Rains of Table 28 with Bacon Poblano Mac & Cheese with Crispy Chicken Skins, Bacon Pumpkin Sticky Toffee with Bacon Pumpkin Seed Brittle and Bacon-wrapped Quail with Blackberry BBQ Sauce. This is Rains’ third time to win the competition.
The people’s choice award also went to Rains.
Little Rock native Jessica Mack says she was honored to be part of the event. She and Jake Dell provided musical entertainment.
Second place by the judges went to Chef Jeff Owen of Ciao Baci for Bacon & Gouda Caramelized Onion Risotto and Banana Bacon Beignets and third place went to Chef Brian Townley of Cache Restaurant for Bacon Cotton Candy, Three Pepper Mac & Cheese with Smoked Porkbelly and Bacon Bomb Pops with Cranberry Hot Sauce.
Other restaurants included Good Food by Ferneau, So Restaurant, 1620 Savoy, Terry’s Finer Foods, and Blue Cake Company.
Singer/songwriter Jessica Mack and Jake Dell provided live entertainment for the event and even led the crowd at times in a Hog Call to celebrate the Razorback win over Auburn after four overtimes.
The UAMS Patient Support Fund provides the UAMS pet therapy program, resource assistance for long-term patients and their families and other help.
UAMS Aux Crew members presented the third annual Rock Town Bacon Throwdown in October. The money raised goes to the UAMS Patient Support Fund.
“We have a lot of patients who are brought in with nothing but the clothes on their back. Sometimes they’re even cut out of their clothes,” said Erin Gray, director of volunteer services and auxiliary at the UAMS Medical Center.
“We provide things like toothbrushes, toothpaste and a change of clothing. We also have a Family Resource Center where people can charge their phones or get in touch with family.”
The UAMS Medical Auxiliary plays an important role in providing for the needs of the patients and visitors. The Aux Crew, founded in 2012, is part of the auxiliary and comprised of young professionals.