Oh Springfield, can’t you ever do anything right? The shame and humiliation that now blackens the name of the capitol city of Illinois because of a scandal being revealed with the first ever WORLD HORSESHOE COOK-OFF! (Like politics wasn’t enough.) Lindsay’s Restaurant has been disqualified and lost their horseshoe title and their reputation will forever be stained as it relates to Springfield’s own horseshoe sandwich. I am appalled, saddened, and need to take some time to just let this all sink in. Here is the full story from the State Journal Register:
http://www.sj-r.com/food/x2121671324/Lindsays-Restaurant-loses-horseshoe-sandwich-crowns
Horseshoe cook-off winner disqualified
By KATHRYN REM (kathryn.rem@sj-r.com)
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Aug 04, 2009 @ 11:30 PM
Last update Aug 05, 2009 @ 06:18 AM
Springfield’s culinary gift to the world, the horseshoe sandwich, was tarnished Tuesday when one of the winners of last Saturday’s World Horseshoe Cook-Off was disqualified because of a rule violation.
Lindsay’s Restaurant forfeited the win for both “crazy horse” shoe and breakfast shoe after competitors learned that those two entries had been made in the restaurant’s kitchen, located in the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel & Conference Center.
Contest rules stated that the horseshoes must be assembled at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, where the event took place.
“It was something we should have caught,” said Brian Oaks, PCCC general manager, after competitors complained to him. He issued a public apology to Lindsay’s and the other cook-off entrants.
Contest rules state, “cheese sauce and protein may be made in advance. Starch portion and assembly must be completed at the PCCC at time of competition.”
The nine competing restaurants were given the option of using the convention center’s kitchen. But because of limited cooking space there, contest officials allowed Lindsay’s to use its own kitchen.
The hotel and the convention center are connected by an underground walkway.
A news release from the convention center said: “The PCCC accepts full responsibility for allowing this component of the rules to become overlooked during the event.”
The cook-off had five categories: classic shoe, breakfast shoe, dessert shoe, “crazy horse” shoe and best overall shoe.
The breakfast shoe’s runner-up, The Pasfield House, was named the winner in that category. D’Arcy’s Pint, which came in second in the “crazy horse” shoe event, was named first place in that category.
Other winners named Saturday were Amber Jack Alehouse for dessert shoe, D’Arcy’s Pint for classic shoe and Lindsay’s for best overall shoe.
Oaks said Lindsay’s would retain the best overall shoe title because changing it would require a reconvening of all eight judges. (This writer was a contest judge.)
“The PCCC had invited the hotel to participate and, due to our location, allowed the hotel to cook in our kitchen,” said Robert Daniels, general manager of the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel. “We followed the ground rules. … It’s unfortunate the situation happened like this,”
Hallie Pierceall, owner of D’Arcy’s Pint, said she was thrilled to learn of her pub’s better-late-than-never “crazy horse” shoe win.
“I actually thought that was our best one to begin with anyway,” she said, noting that her restaurant entered in two categories. D’Arcy’s “crazy horse” shoe was a combination of mini cheeseburgers, bacon, tomatoes, pickles, onions, toast, cheese sauce and fries.
The first-year contest — which yielded only bragging rights to the winners, no purse — attracted 16 entries.
Despite “horseshoe-gate,” Oaks said the cook-off is on the fast track for next year.
“It was something we wanted to be fun, and we hope it can be an annual event.”
Kathryn Rem can be reached at 788-1520.
You’ll find various interesting responses to the article if you click on the link provided, of which I had to repost one here that totally cracks me up! Thanks to “blogging a dead horse” for this:
The news shook the horseshoe community. The shockwaves of this announcement will be felt for decades to come.
I expect there will be a full investigation. Ultimately the Mayor is responsible. I assume there will be a steady drum beat calling for his resignation. After that, who knows how many careers will end over this?
One thing is for sure, everyone will remember where they were when they heard this awful news.