The second annual Minnesota delegation "Hotdish Off" competition ended Wednesday in a tie between U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack and Sen. Al Franken, who knows something about close elections. "There has to be a recount," Franken quipped. It was Franken's "Mom's Mahnomin Madness Hotdish" versus Cravaack's "Minnesota Wild Strata Hotdish." The wild rice was produced by the Fon Du Lac Band of Chippewa. "That took us over the top," Cravaack explained. "You and me buddy!" Franken enthused between hugs in the winner's circle. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, last year's winner, entered this year's sentimental favorite: "Ted the Turkey Memorial Hotdish." (Hot Dish Politics now pauses for a moment to remember Ted, the Minnesota Turkey chosen to be pardoned by President Obama this past Thanksgiving. Unfortunately for Ted, he charged the press corps at the Minnesota send-off ceremony and was later declared a "flight risk" and never made it to the White House to spend his later days at historic Mr. Vernon overlooking the Potomac River. He was served for dinner at a local shelter instead). We're back. This year's Hotdish Off, which seems to have captured the imagination of the Washington press corps on an apparently slow news day, was the brainchildof Franken as a way to dial down the Capitol's usual partisan nastiness. "If there's one thing that can bring a bunch of Minnesotans together, it's hotdish" Franken said. While many of the D.C. locals were left ask "what's hotdish?" the Minnesota gang enjoyed a moment of Midwestern goofiness. They were joined by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick Conroy, a Jesuit priest who was pressed into service as a judge at the last moment when former congressman Gerry Sikorski showed up late. "I've never felt more like a Lutheran," said Father Conroy. The other judge was former congressman Vin Weber, who declined comment on the food "because there has been no exit polling done." The losers – or should we say non-winners – took it all in stride. Rep. Tim Walz thought his Spam recipe "was a sure lock." Rep. Keith Ellison called it "a taste of home." Rep. Erik Paulsen entered a dish made with pheasant he shot himself, and Rep. Collin Peterson (who's better known for shooting his own food) exalted the ability of meat and potatoes to bring people together, even if "I personally prefer lutefisk and lefse." Rep. Michele Bachmann summed up the rare moment of unity: "Our recipes are as diverse as our politics, but we can all agree that a good hotdish is a staple on kitchen tables across Minnesota." Including her own, we are told. (There's a video of this event under 'videos' on the home page)
