2015 Samoa Soiree

On Saturday, March 7, more than 400 guests attended the 7th annual Samoa Soiree, a unique tasting event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast where top chefs from Hampton Roads made desserts and appetizers using Girl Scout Cookies as a key ingredient. This year, 19 restaurants participated in the culinary competition hosted at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk.

Judges at this year's Samoa Soiree: Melissa Stewart,
Angela Blue, Steve Parnell, Vanessa Coria, Don London

The culinary delights were judged by area celebrities and foodies, including WVEC Anchor Vanessa Coria, who also served as the MC for the evening, Angela Blue, associate editor of Coastal Virginia Magazine, Sandra DeLoatch, provost and vice president for academic affairs for Norfolk State University, Don London, of The New 101.3, Steve Parnell, account executive for Little Brownie Bakers and Melissa Stewart, editor-in-chief for Coastal Virginia Magazine.

This year’s winning dishes were:

Best Dessert: Tagalongs Peanut Butter Crunch Cupcake by Coastal Grill

Best Savory: Golden Lamb Chops with Samoas Mashed Sweet Potatoes by Farm Fresh Supermarkets

Best Presentation: Trefoil Arepas with Tequila Lime Port and Thin Mints Mole by BRAVO! Cucina Italiana

S'moras by Rocket Fuel Juice Bar &
Food Lab

Most Creative Use of a Girl Scout Cookie: S’moras (deconstructed s’mores made with Samoas) by Rocket Fuel Juice Bar & Food Lab

Best in Show: Lobster and Savannah Smiles Stuffed Shrimp over Quinoa Stir Fry with Yuzu Jus by Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton

People’s Choice: Samoas Chicken Curry Arancini with Mint Yogurt Dipping Sauce by Cotton Southern Bistro

Restaurants that participated in this year’s Samoa Soiree included: AJ Gators, Anchor Allie’s Bistro, Gateaux Bakery, gb&d sweet eats, Hell’s Kitchen, Home Republic Brewpub, Lucky Oyster, Now You’re Cooking Culinary Studio, RJ’s at The Kroc Center, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Travinia Italian Kitchen, Twisted Sisters Sugar Shack Café and The Vineyards.

Ruth's Chris Steak House made a
cheesecake using Do-si-dos

Guests at Samoa Soiree also enjoyed live music by acoustic guitarist and singer Lewis McGehee and bidding on first rate items in a silent auction that included a week at a beach house in the Outer Banks, a football autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin and more.

Proceeds from the event will support the Opportunity Fund, which provides financial assistance to girls whose families need help with Girl Scout membership, summer camp and program fees.

The event was generously sponsored by Coastal Virginia Magazine, East Coast Valet Company, Farm Fresh Food and Pharmacy, Greenbrier Dodge, Kaufman and Canoles Attorneys at Law, Little Brownie Bakers, Mark A. Vandeveer, CPA, The New 101.3, Solutrix CyberSecurity, Tidewater Women, Top Guard Security, TowneBank, VEER Magazine, Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer CPAs and Advisors, WVEC-TV 13 and Yelp.

View more photos from the event here.