Soundcheck

SOUND CHECK: Dessert Mystery Box Cook off

Get ready for a sweet showdown. SoundCheck: Dessert Mystery Box Cookoff invites local cooks to put their creativity to the test with one surprise mystery ingredient from the Food Co-op.

This is a dessert-only competition, with dishes prepared in advance and showcased live on Friday night, February 27th at Soundcheck. Guests and judges will sample, savor, and celebrate bold flavors, inventive ideas, and beautiful presentation.

Details, prizes and how to sign up below!

What’s in the Mystery Bag?

Sweet… savory… unexpected. The heart of SOUNDCHECK: Dessert Mystery Box Cook Off is the mystery. On competition night, every chef will be challenged with the same surprise ingredient, sourced from the Food Co-op and revealed only after sign-up. These ingredients are intentionally a little off the beaten path, flexible, intriguing, and full of potential — inviting chefs to stretch their creativity and reimagine what dessert can be.

While the final ingredient will remain under wraps until pickup, it will be one of the options below. Think rich textures, subtle umami, nutty depth, and playful twists that shine in the hands of a creative cook. How you transform it is entirely up to you.

Potential Mystery Bag Ingredients include:

  • Avocado

  • Tahini

  • Olive oil

  • White miso

  • Coconut cream

  • Hazelnut butter

  • Cashew cream

  • Buckwheat flour

  • Chickpeas or aquafaba

  • Sesame seeds (black or white)

One ingredient. Endless possibilities. What will you create?

How to Participate

  • Sign up by February 20th using the Sign Up Here button below.

  • Limited to the first 30 chefs to register!

  • Pick up your Mystery Ingredient Bag between February 17 - 25th at the Food Co-op Customer Service Desk

    • Your bag will be labeled with your name on it

  • Chefs are responsible for all ingredients except the secret ingredient

  • Prepare your dessert at home or in a commercial kitchen

  • Bring your finished dessert to Soundcheck on Friday, February 27th at 4:00 PM

  • Each chef must provide:

    • 30 bite-sized samples

    • 5 copies of the recipe to accompany your dessert (for the judges) bring extras to pass out to observers if you wish.

Once you’ve signed up and picked up your mystery ingredient, it’s time to experiment, create, and bring your best dessert game to Soundcheck.

SIGN UP HERE

PRIZES

  • 1st Place: $200 Food Co-op Gift Card

  • 2nd Place: $50 Food Co-op Gift Card

  • 3rd Place: $25 Food Co-op Gift Card

JUDGING

Desserts will be judged live by a panel of 3-5 local food lovers and community judges.

Entries will be judged on creativity, flavor, and presentation.

HOW IT WORKS

  • Chefs will create their dessert at home or in a commercial kitchen

  • Each chef must provide enough samples for approximately 30 people

  • Desserts will be brought to Soundcheck on Friday night to be displayed and tasted

  • The mystery ingredient from the Food Co-op must be featured in each dessert