At noon this Saturday at Efland-Cheeks Elementary School (4401 Fuller Road, Efland), Mildred Council of Mama Dip’s in Chapel Hill and Robert Campbell, a local minister, environmental activist, and chef, will evaluate entries by two Orange County residents competing to create an interesting take on a traditional southern vegetable recipe. The contestants—Chrisean Fuller of Efland-Cheeks and D’Jenna Crayton of Chapel Hill—are finalists from an earlier cook-off held in conjunction with the Efland Food Project, which aims to document African American foodways in the Efland-Cheeks area. For both the previous and upcoming competitions, foods are judged according to their health benefits, taste, and cultural significance, with an eye toward expanding rather than diminishing local ways of preparing foods.
Hear Council and Campbell’s take on the final entries at noon. And be sure to visit Efland-Cheeks Elementary School earlier around 11 a.m. for the start of the Efland-Cheeks Community Festival, which will include activities for kids, a number of health-oriented booths, and a game of bid whist. The latter—a card game from which bridge was supposedly derived—will be for spectators only, having filled earlier during pre-registration.