The chilly rain that fell steadily all day didn't keep the crowds away from the 14th Ever Nog-off at the Historic Arkansas Museum on Dec. 14.
It was nogging-room only as the masses poured in to taste recipes submitted for the friendly competition by local restaurants.
There was a panel of nog judges: Helaine Williams, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist and features writer; Georgia Pellegrini, chef and author of Modern Pioneering and other books, host of the TV show Wild Food and adventure expert; and Louise Terzia, who won the First Ever Nog-off competition.
Judges awarded the Taster's Choice Award to Loblolly Creamery for its entry of Eggnog Ice Cream.
"Love this play on the traditional nog. I think this may be my new favorite ice cream and as it melts it turns into nog and stays cold. Wanted to eat my weight in it!" one reviewer wrote.
The People's Choice Award, determined by the votes of actual Nog-off guests, went to the "Nog on a Log" eggnog, created by the Arkansas Pioneer's Association.
"I love this, and now I am snockered," one reviewer wrote.
And the Not Your Great, Great, Great Grandfather's Eggnog Award, set aside for a nontraditional favorite, was bestowed on Citrus Capital Eggnog by Matias de Matthaeis at the Capital Hotel.
"Amazing presentation. It was like opening a present -- first a raft of beautiful citrus custard and candied orange peel, and then the most other worldly beverage underneath," said the report on that one.
Other Nog-off partners included Allsop and Chapple Restaurant and Bar, Big Orange Midtown, Old Mill Bread & Flour Co., E.J.'s Eats and Drinks, South on Main, Stone's Throw Brewing and The Pizzeria.
-- Special to the Democrat-
High Profile on 01/06/2019