(Le Mars) — The fifth annual MenuMasters event, sponsored by L.E.E.P. (Le Mars Educational Enhancement Project) held Saturday evening at the Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds proved to once again be a successful event. 29 different chef teams competed for the top honors of making the best tasting food item, but also for the best theme. Co-chairs of the event, Deb Parmelee and Lynn Baumgartner proudly displayed a large check totaling $44,467 as the amount of money raised this year that will be designated to help the Le Mars Community School District.
LEEP committee members honored Linda Mayrose with the first annual L.E.E.P. Legacy Award for her dedicated work in getting the annual event started five years ago. Mayrose was presented a crystal apple as a token representing education.
The Best Theme Award was given to Dr. Paul Parmelee and Dr. Andrew Geha representing Floyd Valley Healthcare with their rendition of “Mammo Mash”. This is the second year in a row that the two medical doctors have won a trophy.
Hy-Vee was presented the trophy for the Best Food. The trio of chefs of Greg, Don, and Jordan prepared Jalapeno Hog Slop.
New this year was a separate category in which five unknown judges tasted and tested the food samples and determined their top selection. Winning the first “Judges Choice Award” was the team from Perspective Insurance consisting of Rick Logan, Matt Susemihl, and Justin Freking. The trio prepared “A Pork Perspective”.
To date, the fifth annual MENuMasters has raised more than $106,000 which has paid for everything from text books to tablets, and playground equipment to pencil sharpeners.