Before voting on her preferred hotdog at Uncork the Sun, Sandra Harvey had to try them both first, and is seen here being served by chef Derek Uhlemann from Covert Farms. (Dan Walton photo)
The Golden Weenie changed hands again at this year’s Top Dog Culinary Contest, where Chef Nick Atkins summoned his inner Snoop Dogg to drop it like it’s hot.
The contest was one pillar of Uncork the Sun, which was held by the Oliver Tourism Association for the third year as a fundraiser for the Sunshine Festival, where two chefs go head-to-head in a hotdog showdown in Oliver Community Park. The buns and beef are the same on both sides, it was the gourmet toppings that set the chefs apart. The winner is decided by a mix of referendum and celebrity judges.
Last year, the Golden Weenie went to Farm Chef Derek Uhlemann from Covert Farms. But his creation this year was no match for a recipe inspired by the American rapper.
“The Snoop Dog starts with a little bit of smoked peaches and cream barbecue sauce,” Atkins said. “Local peaches are put into the bun with a smokie, topped with a bit of drop-it-like-it’s-hot chilli ketchup. On top of that is crispy chicken skin – which is Snoop Dogg’s favourite dish, chicken wings.
“And you can’t have Snoop Dog without the grass, so there’s a little micro mustard on there.”
(Mind the Gs – Snoop Dogg is the rapper, Snoop Dog is the hotdog.)
With crowd eagerly awaiting to find out who would be the 2016 winner, Atkins said it felt fantastic to be declared the winner in front of family.
“Now they know that I’m the top dog, and I’ll bring it again next year,” he said. “I don’t know who I’ll be competing against, but I’ve got a full year to plan so it’s going to top what I did this year. Stay tuned.”
Atkins only moved to Oliver about a month ago, and said the invite to be part of the local culinary scene was humbling.
“Snoop Dogg said he would be unable to make it to Uncorked, but I did tweet him and hopefully he gets the message.”
One of the judges, Tyler Gludovatz, who also manages Buy-Low Foods in Oliver, was especially impressed by Atkins’ original sauce.
“That mango salsa would go good in my store, said Gludovatz. “If you bottle that I’ll buy it.”
“What I like this year is both hotdogs were really different,” said volunteer Carol Sheridan.
“The Snoop Dog had homemade barbecue sauce using local peaches, crispy chicken bits, and Derek’s was loaded with avocado, local tomatoes and fresca salsa.”
Sheridan said Uncork the Sun was launched as a fundraiser for the Sunshine Festival free to the public, which began the following day.
“It’s two days of free entertainment which is something the Oliver community really likes,” she said.
“We started with the signature hotdog event as a fun way to draw people, which coincides with July being National Hotdog Month in the United States. We’re hoping to eventually get some Washington folks to cross the line and come celebrate with us.”
Joe Luckhurst, general manager of Road 13 Vineyards, was serving at the event as part of the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association.
“It’s always nice to do events in our own town and be able to pour for people who live in this town – the middle of wine country – and don’t always get to see what’s in their backyard,” he said.
“I always love a good hotdog and wine.”
DAN WALTON
Oliver Chronicle
Hotdog helper Nick Atkins puts the Snoop Dog on display, which was this year’s winning hotdog at the Top Dog Culinary Contest, which was the main attraction at Uncork the Sun on July 7. (Dan Walton photo)
