2017 Samoa Soiree

On Saturday, March 25, more than 300 guests tasted Girl Scouts Cookies like never before at the ninth annual Samoa Soiree, hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Eleven local restaurants competed to make the tastiest sweet or savory dish using a Girl Scout Cookie as the key ingredient.

This year’s winning dishes were:

The winning dishes by Catering by Farm Fresh,
Mixxer's Kitchen and The Bee & The Biscuit

Best Dessert: Coconut Dulce Cupcakes by Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar

Best Savory: Braised Pork by Catering by Farm Fresh

Best Presentation: Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton

Most Creative Use of a Girl Scout Cookie: Lemon Asiago Macaroni and Cheese with Savannah Smiles and Trefoils by The Vineyards Trattoria

People’s Choice for Best Dessert: Heaven and Earth Cupcakes by The Bee & The Biscuit

People’s Choice for Best Savory: Braised Pork by Catering by Farm Fresh

The culinary delights were judged by local celebrities and foodies, including Angela Blue, editor-in-chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine; Don London, vice president of operations at Entercom Communications Corporation; Marisa Marsey of VEER Magazine, Xerxes Nabong, Yelp community director; Steve Parnell, account executive with Little Brownie Bakers; Ashley Smith, 13News Now reporter and Peggy Sijswerda, editor and publisher of Tidewater Family Magazine and Tidewater Women Magazine.

This year’s participating restaurants included: The Bee & The Biscuit, The Butcher’s Son, Catering by Farm Fresh, Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton, Mermaid Catering, Event and Personal Chef Services, Mixxer’s Kitchen, RJ’s Café at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, Sweetwater Café, Tap It Local, Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar and The Vineyards Norfolk.

Guests enjoyed live entertainment by NO iD Music Group.

Proceeds from the event will fund opportunities for girls to take part in programs that will teach them about how to be go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leaders.

The event was generously sponsored by A. Reddix and Associates, Enspyr, and Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer P.C.

Thanks to the generous media partners who supported the event: 2WD 101.3, 13News Now, Coastal Virginia Magazine, Tidewater Women Magazine, VEER Magazine and Yelp.

View more photos here.