McCollum takes first prize in Minnesota delegation's fifth annual "Hotdish Off"

The scents of warm potatoes and cheese wafted through the room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon as members of the Minnesota delegation went head-to-head for the fifth annual "Hotdish Off," in what might be the friendliest competition on the Hill, hosted by Sen. Al Franken.

The rules: "All hot dishes must contain a starch, some protein and a liquid," said Eric Kaler, University of Minnesota president and one of the three hot dish competition judges. He, along with Star Tribune editorial writer Jill Burcum and The Hill's Devin Henry (formerly MinnPost's D.C. correspondent), graded the dishes on taste (a maximum of 10 points), originality (5 points) and "Minnesota components" (5 points).

Above: Rep. Betty McCollum's winning hot dish.

The faceoff came out with a win for Minnesota's fourth district — Rep. Betty McCollum took first place, upsetting what would have been Rep. Tim Walz's three-year winning streak. McCollum couldn't be at the event to accept the prize for her "Turkey, Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Hotdish" dotted with tater tots. Her communications director Sam McCullough accepted an empty casserole dish award on her behalf.

The challenge exposed the members' competitive sides, away from the world of amendments and legislation.

"What is wrong with trying to win?" U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar asked Rep. Keith Ellison before the judging began.

"Nothing, nothing," Ellison replied.

Franken, who won his first election by a recount of 312 votes and seven months of legal fights, said, "Don't ever say that word around me!"

Above: Sen. Al Franken hosts the yearly cook-off.

This was the second year the entire delegation participated in the cook-off, and the first year without Michele Bachmann entering a recipe. The room was bristling with staffers and reporters.

Joked Kaler: "To get this many TV cameras, I usually have to fire a coach."

Franken said he started the event to give members a chance to "get together as a delegation and celebrate a Minnesota culinary tradition."

"You know, this is the first thing you said in that call you made to me after I won my election," Republican Rep. Tom Emmer said to Franken. "That I would have to do 'Hotdish.'" Emmer replaced Bachmann after Bachmann retired in 2014.

"I don't care if I win, all I care about is Tim Walz doesn't win," Franken said, hoping someone would break Walz's two-year winning streak.

Above: (from left) Reps. Tom Emmer, Erik Paulsen and John Kline chat with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (center) during the "Hotdish Off."

Emmer, a first-time hot dish participant, posed with a sign that read "Fresh Meat Hotdish" — a title he gave his cheesy tater tot concoction in a crockpot.

Klobuchar jumped in the photo at the last minute.

"Yeah," he said, still holding his sign. "With fresh meat!"