The First Annual International Dutch Oven Championship Cook-off takes place March 16 at the South Towne Exposition Center, 9575 S. State. Doug Miller and the International Sportmen Exposition are hosting the event, where 10 teams of experienced Dutch oven cooks will compete for the title of grand champion by preparing desserts, breads and main dishes, all from scratch and cooked on-site in a Dutch oven. While cooking, the contestants will share their expertise and advice with the onlookers. The competition takes place inside the northwest corner of the Expo Center.
Cooking begins at 10 a.m. with judging at 12:30, 2, and 3 p.m. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Tickets for the Sportsmen Expo include admission to the cook-off. The competition is sponsored by the International Dutch Oven Society, the organization that also ran the World Championship Cook-off at the Festival of the American West in Logan for several years. This year, the group moved the cook-off to the International Sportsmen Expo.
"This is the first time our championship will take place with the Doug Miller-ISE show, and we feel it will give more people a chance to come and watch the cooks and learn more about Dutch oven cooking," said IDOS President Kent Mayberry. "We had a great time in Logan, but being associated with Doug Miller and the expo is a great opportunity."
To qualify for the championship cook-off, each team had to win a local cook-off by cooking three different dishes — main dish, yeast-rise or sourdough bread and dessert, all in a Dutch oven within the time limits.
"We at the KUTV-ISE are very excited to have the International Championship Cook-off join our event at the South Towne Expo," said Doug Miller. "This event has become a celebration of outdoor lifestyles in Utah, and Dutch oven cooking is one of this state's most popular outdoor activities."