This year at the 1998 KSC All-American Picnic, the Cook-Off will have a different flavor. Instead of chili, the participants will be cooking seafood chowder, gumbo, or any similar type of concoction utilizing Florida seafood. We hope that this encourages the same good-natured competition we have had for the past six or seven years while providing an infusion of new recipes and additional cooking teams.

The following rules are to be adhered to by all cook-off chairmen, cooks, and/or assistants:

• Each contestant must be an avid supporter of the space program.
• Contestants are responsible for supplying all of their own cooking utensils, grills, tables, etc. The picnic committee will provide an area for each contestant.
• Facility electrical power may be available. It may be used for any reasonable purpose except as a heat source for cooking or warming the seafood chowder or gumbo.
• Displays and demonstrations will be judged based upon overall appearance, ambiance, aesthetics, spirit, participation of the contestants, and enjoyment by the judges (and public).
• "Spontaneous" demonstrations throughout the spectator area are permitted. However, contestants are asked that their support team respect the visitors and their view.
• Offensive distractions (such as loud generators, sirens, or the revving of vehicle engines) are not allowed. Pleasant and enjoyable activity such as music and dancing are strongly encouraged.
• All contestants who have special requirements or who plan to arrive by special vehicle (e.g., decorated cars or trucks, hot air balloons, or parachutes) are asked to notify the sponsors at least one week in advance so that adequate crowd control procedures may be used.
• A representative of the officials’ committee shall conduct a contestants meeting, at which time final instructions and the schedule will be distributed and questions answered.
• The chief scorekeeper will provide official interpretation of the rules.
• The decision of the judges shall be final.
• In consideration of those picnic attendees who may have particular food allergies (shellfish, etc.), a list of seafood or peanut ingredients must be posted at each display. Other ingredients may be treated as cooks’ secrets.
• Entrants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Deadline for applications is Wednesday, May 6, 1998.

Official Seafood Judging
• Only stew-like dishes made with seafood as a main ingredient will be allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, chowder, gumbo, stew, and even seafood chili.
• No ingredient may be precooked in any way prior to the setup period the day of the cook-off. The only exceptions are canned or bottled tomatoes, tomato sauce, peppers, pepper sauce, beverages, broth, and grinding and/or mixing the spices. The seafood may be pre-cut, ground, or shelled, but not treated in any way. All other ingredients must be chopped or prepared at the cook-off.
• Each contestant group will be assigned a contestant’s number by the chief scorekeeper and be given a container in which the group's seafood will be collected at the time of official judging. Each contestant should verify that the number on the bottom of the container is the same as the contestant’s number assigned to the contestant by the chief scorekeeper.

Attempts to influence, bias, or sway the public toward one recipe away from any other is permitted and encouraged.

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Main Chowder Cookoff Page	Olympics
Tickets	Committees
Children's Carnival	Entertainment

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Want to Volunteer? Come be a part of the fun and make new friends!
Contact (Diane.Welford-1@ksc.nasa.gov) by e-mail or phone at 867-2552 and tell her how you'd like to help!

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Return to the 1998 KSC All-American Picnic Home Page

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Curator: Susan Maurer

Last Revised: March 24, 1998