‘Whole Foods Cakes -5856’
courtesy of ‘Joe Tresh’

Contests come and go in this city, but this is one I can really get behind. Eatonville and Church Lady Cake Diaries are teaming up to host a coconut cake challenge. Fire up the KitchenAid mixer, call your grandma and pry the family recipe out of her, use the entire 72-hours of your holiday weekend to craft the perfect cake–it’s time for a bake-off. 

‘I Was Told There Would Be Cake’
courtesy of ‘caroline.angelo’

The contest is simple: submit your recipe for coconut cake (baked from scratch and with real coconut, of course), and take a shot at a cash prize and sporting the title of “DC’s best coconut cake.” The winner will receive $500 in cash, and their cake will be featured on Eatonville’s menu.

Not only do you have a shot at winning cash and city-wide cake-off glory, but you get to impress judges like James Beard Award winner, Joan Nathan and cookbook author and novelist, Brenda Rhodes Miller. Plus, the Makes-Me-Wanna-SHOUT! Coconut Cake Challenge will benefit Miriam’s Kitchen. Coconut cake and a good cause? I’ll be stuffing my face next to the judges table, if that’s allowed.

Entries are due February 22, 2011 and the finalists will be judged on April 27th. Sorry food professionals, this contest is for amateur bakers only.

May the best baker win.

Marissa Bialecki

Marissa was born and bred in New Jersey, but moved to DC for undergrad at GWU (Go Colonials, go!), fell in love with the District and learned that there was life and civilization beyond New York City. She loves eating at white-tablecloth-three-forks-at-your-place-setting restaurants, but she’ll also be the first to suggest we scarf down some chili dogs at 2 am. Simply put, she loves all things food. You can also read about why she loves DC. Follow her on Twitter and email her at mbialecki (at) welovedc.com.