Crowds Throng Ave Maria for Steak and Other Pursuits
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Published on Sunday, 27 January 2013 14:49
There was no mistaking the kind of activity going on in the Ave Maria town center Saturday afternoon. A haze of charcoal smoke hung over the town as 22 grill teams cooked up more than 1,500 steaks at the third annual Sunshine State Steak Cook Off, one of a number of events and activities in town.
A grill team headed by Ave Maria resident Jim Hess, Carnis Amatores (below left), took home the trophy for the best steak, winning not only the first-place trophy but also the bragging rights in what had become a heated rivalry among more than a half-dozen grill teams of Ave Maria residents and merchants.
The steak cook-off was the largest of a number of events taking place in Ave Maria Saturday including the official opening of the Collier Family Farms farmstand, an open house at the new Oasis Club in Del Webb, a Little League tournament and the Family Fun Festival of games and activities which, along with the steak cook-off, benefited the Rhodora Donahue Academy in Ave Maria.
The steak cook-off was not only bigger this year, with about 25 percent more steaks served than last year and about twice as many as the event's first year, but the entertainment also got a boost from an appearance by Casey Weston (below right), a former Naples resident who was a finalist in the reality show The Voice and has since launched a career as a country singer.
The steak cook-off drew entries from across Florida as well as from Texas and Arkansas, but local teams from Ave Maria finished high in the rankings, taking four of the top six spots. In addition to the first-place finish by Carnis Amatores, the Knights of the Holy Grill finished fourth, achieving a goal they set for themselves of beating neighbors High Steaks, who placed fifth. The Knights of Columbus Ave Maria council placed sixth.
Below left, Knights of the Holy Grill team member Michael Timmis holds the team's "secret ingredient" -- the Daryl Klein Rub -- named for a member of the rival High Steaks team. Mr. Timmis and his team members had made it a special goal to beat Mr. Klein's team headed by Chris Buccheri, seen in picture below right (in cap) along with Michael Raiger.
Below, the Hot Pursuit team, sponsored by Beckner Jewelry, won the Holy Smokes trophy for best showmanship for the second straight year. At left, is event organizer Tom Smith.
Right, the Ave Maria cub scout pack led the "parade of grills" opening the steak cook off festivities.
Below, Sandra Slapp, 7, from Naples, encounters Spunky Taylor, an iguana brought to the Family Fun Festival by the Kowaichobe Animal Preserve.
Right, Collier County Commissioner Tim Nance cuts a ceremonial ribbon opening the Collier Family Farms farmstand.
