Jun

Food fights!

Now He Can Have His Cake and Eat It, Too

In recognition and appreciation of Al Horvath’s service as Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian, the SI Staff Picnic on June 30 will feature a cake competition—open to all—to test our culinary skills and creativity! SI staff attending the picnic will be eligible to cast votes for their favorite entry, based on the cake’s appearance and its creative connection to the Acting Secretary. Prizes will be awarded to the winners, and then we’ll get to sample the entries. . .while supplies last. If you plan to enter the bake-off, please email the title or name of your cake to Arlene Reiniger, reinigera@si.edu, by 5 p.m. Monday, June 22.

Cooking With Quinoa

Are you a healthy cook? Would you like to show off your epicurean talents? The First Annual Smithsonian Staff Cook-off will be staged at this year’s Smithsonian Staff Picnic. The theme this year, “Cooking with Quinoa,” honors the Perú: Pachamama program of the 2015 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Domesticated in Peru approximately 6,000 years ago, quinoa has long been an essential part of the Andean diet. The Inkas called it “the tears of the sun.”

Four contestants will be chosen to compete in our Festival demonstration kitchen between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; each cook will have 45 minutes to make their quinoa creation. The final recipes will be judged by a panel of guest staff food experts, and prizes will be awarded!

If you have a quinoa recipe you think is a “winner,” we want to hear from you. Submit your name, Smithsonian position, contact information, the name of the recipe you wish to make, and a brief (100 words or less) statement of why you think your recipe is great! Please send these to Arlene Reiniger, reinigera@si.edu, by 5 p.m. Friday, June 19. We will let you know by June 25 if you have been selected as a competitor!

Ingredients, cooking supplies, and utensils will be provided to the four finalists. Bon Appétit!