Grillers display their talents to hungry crowd at Eggfest
MIDDLESEX TWP — A unique and delicious event on Saturday saw friends old and new enjoying dozens of delectable morsels together.
The Allgreen Eggfest on Pittsburgh Road saw professional chefs as well as grilling enthusiasts cooking up everything from smoked apple cider to grilled peaches to pepperoni roll on their Big Green Egg grills and offering samples to the 150 who attended.
All grillers at the event competed for the status of “Most Eggcellent Chef.”
A winery and brewery offered adult beverages, a cornhole game allowed for some competition and a band played live music as those in attendance enjoyed samples or sat chatting near a fire.
All proceeds from the Eggfest benefited South Butler Community Meals on Wheels, said event organizer Amanda Becker, whose father, Hap Evans, owns the Allgreen Inc. where the event was held.
Bob Brown of Middlesex Township said he most enjoyed the ribs, pulled pork and chicken he sampled at the Eggfest.
“It's a great event because you get to sample food and see how the Green Eggs work,” Brown said. “I've never heard of them before this.”
Lynn Ross of Pine Township, Allegheny County, agreed.
“You get to be with friends and see how these Green Eggs work,” Ross said. “It's nice to be with people in your community, and it was a big lunch.”
Brad Roberts of Allison Park started grilling with charcoal about three years ago, and bought a Big Green Egg grill about a year and a half ago.
His table at the Eggfest was covered with small cupcake papers filled with samples of either barbecued meatloaf or smoked deviled eggs.
“I've had a lot of repeat offenders,” Roberts said of his samples. “The deviled eggs were a big hit.”
He considers fall to be grilling season because of tailgate events and cooking near a nice warm grill in the crisp air.
“And it's nice to have something to eat and drink when you're watching the Steelers,” Roberts said.
He cooks on his Big Green Egg grill year-round for his young family.
“I remember firing this thing up at 10 degrees,” Roberts said. “I use it all year.”
His family's favorite fare in the Green Egg is pizza, which he cooks at 600 degrees.
“I like how the Big Green Egg keeps the temperature consistent,” Roberts said. “It's like an oven.”
He also checked out the other competitors, and will give bananas Foster a try on the Green Egg.
Shelley Venesky of Summit Township cooked with her aunt, who owns the Big Green Egg that turned out crab cakes, scallops, scones, pepperoni bread, apple bars and more.
Venesky most enjoyed the beef, wine and grilled peaches with ice cream.“It's a great idea to get people in the community out to have a fun day and try different foods,” Venesky said.Greg and Brenda Clifford relaxed in Adirondack chairs after making their rounds through the sample area.Brenda favored the steak cooked on the Green Egg.“Everything I had was good,” she said. “There were different kinds of food, not all the same thing.”She also enjoyed seeing her friends and neighbors at the Eggfest.“I think the best part is seeing people you know but don't always see or get to talk to,” Brenda said.Greg, who does the grilling at the family's home, tried to learn everything he could from the grillers as they prepared their samples.“I got some tips on grilling,” he said. “It's pretty cool.”He was interested to see one griller place potatoes on skewers and put them under a turkey that was being cooked on the Green Egg. “It's pretty neat,” Greg Clifford said of the event. “I never thought about grilling peaches or hard boiled eggs.”Becker said while she did not yet have a total raised for South Butler Community Meals on Wheels on Saturday afternoon, the 50/50 raffle alone raised $300.She said the Most Eggcellent Chef crown went to the cooks from Just In Thyme Catering of Gibsonia, who made pork tenderloin with plum sauce, bananas Foster crustinis and smoked apple cider.“There was a lot of delicious food, and people could sit and enjoy themselves,” Becker said.
