West Central Michigan News

The votes are in from the Main Street Program’s first Love Local event! This year, Oscar Brown’s Tavern won the Best of Bowls Award for the soup and chili cook-off, with Hope Café and the Bent Prop Pub following close behind. Oscar Brown’s Tavern served a Tomato Basil Soup and received 43 votes, while Hope Café received 37 votes and Bent Prop Pub received 36 votes. An interesting thing to note is that all restaurants and all soups were listed in voters' top three choices. These results were gathered after 150 people purchased tickets for the soup and chili cook-off, with 110 of them placing their votes.

The competitions allowed attendees to vote for their three favorite spoonfuls from the soup and chili cook-off and to have a chance to win a curated prize basket when they submit their vote to a voting box. The prize package was curated by HaasCaywood PC, with participation from S. Allen Design, Kiess Jewelry, Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce, Shorty's Barber Shop, and Culy's Jewelry. It includes a 12-quart stainless steel stock pot, a handmade wooden spoon set, a chili cookbook, Michigan-made snacks, and various gift cards. The prize basket awardee was chosen randomly by Abbey Hoffman, the City of Coldwater’s and the CBPU’s Marketing Coordinator. The winner of the prize basket is Erin. No last name was given, but if your name is Erin and you attended the Love Local event on Saturday, please check your voicemail as Audrey Tappenden with the Main Street Program has been trying to contact you. 

Love Local is the first event hosted by the Coldwater Main Street program. Building upon a community favorite, the Love Local event promoted community engagement in the downtown area by encouraging retail shopping and participation in valentine’s-themed activities. These activities included the soup and chili cook-off, which offered tickets for $5.00, and a valentine’s card-making station, bookmark-making station, photo booth, and live piano music, all free for the public to enjoy. 

Several downtown restaurants and organizations made their own soup or chili for the event while others partnered with a local restaurant to set up a tasting station. There were 12 tasting stations and 15 soups or chilis to enjoy. This year’s contestants included American Legion, Broadway Grille, Coach Eby Youth and Family Center, The Lamp Lighter, Jeannie’s Diner, Hope Café, The Goodie Shop, Two Bandits Brewing Company, Oscar Brown’s Tavern, Bill’s Grill House, Short’s Front Porch, and Bent Prop Pub.

A post-event survey is available for event-goers on the City’s website and will be circulated on the Downtown Coldwater Facebook page.  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Audrey Tappenden at atappenden@coldwater.org or by calling (517) 279-6913. 

Original source can be found here.