Visitors to the YMCA enjoyed sampling all the soups at the YMCA or taking a container of their choice to enjoy at home. A select group of judges at each YMCA Center location sampled all the entries and chose the winning recipes.

Brenda Abrahamson took the honors of Grand Champion in Sturgeon Bay with her Chili. Amy Stephens captured a first for her Wild Rice Mushroom Turkey, Carly Sarkis second with her Chicken Dumpling and Cindy Livingston third with Brett Favre Chili.  People’s choice award in Sturgeon Bay went to Steve Wisniewski at Door County Memorial Hospital for his Lobster Bisque.

Northern Door Staff await hungry Soupers... photo by Brynn Swanson

Northern Door YMCA’s first place winner was Janice Thomas from the Savory Spoon with a French Lentil with Root Vegetables, second place went to Todd Bennett from the Chefs Hat for his Black Bean Andouille Sausage with Wild Rice and third place was Audrey Grasse with a Roasted Squash with Apple Soup.

Special thanks to the dozens of soup chefs and servers who helped make the Souper Stars Challenge possible.  All proceeds from the chili cook-offs will go towards the 2010 Door County YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

The Strong Kids Campaign is the annual campaign to provide funds for scholarships and affordable programs “for all” in Door County regardless of age or financial need.  In 2009, the community helped the Door County YMCA raise $400,450 to support this program.  The goal for the 2010 campaign is $410,000.