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- Brandon’s “The Guac Thickens,” winner of Best Presentation. His fifth time winning the category!
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- The conspiracy board “crazy wall” was complete with yarn, pins, and many past Guac Bowl references.
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- And “The Guac Thickens” was literal — Brandon added secret thickening ingredients to his guacamole.
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- Jordan & Amanda’s “BanderSnack”, an homage to the interactive Black Mirror episode “Bandersnatch.”
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- Like the TV show, it was a choose-your-own-adventure, with different ingredients based on your answers.
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- This twisty tale ended with 2nd place in Presentation. (Pictured here with my son, eyeing the crackers.)
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- My family’s entry, featuring our 7-month-old son Alvy. He stayed in the seat for about 3 seconds…
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- …So he was replaced with a photo while “on break.” Not as impressive. I blame him for our 3rd place finish.
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- Here’s us pretending not to curse his name for ruining our brilliant presentation.
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- Maggie & Ian’s “Guacamochi,” mochi balls filled with guac ice cream! Winner of Best Alternative.
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- Maggie & Ian stayed up late testing and perfecting the delicate balance of sweet, savory, spicy and weird.
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- “Guac & Tortilla Chip Ice Cream” finished 2nd place in Alternative… bested by another frozen one! Brr!
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- Liz & Justin posing with their ice cream and traditional entries.
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- Steve’s “Ssamguac,” inspired by Korean Ssam dishes, with short rib and veggie. Tied for 2nd place in Alternative.
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- Here’s Steve pretending he didn’t know “ssam” means “wrap” in Korean, posing next to un-wrapped things.
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- Tim & Danielle’s “Wicked Guac-Some” was polarizing — winner of the Icarus Award and 3rd place in Alternative.
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- The New England pandering didn’t win over this decidedly West Coast crowd.
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- “State of Guac” by the Levy/Friedman family, especially executive chef Rhonie. Winner of Best Traditional!
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- Rhonie stood next to her winning guac all day, warning tasters of the 3 levels of spice to choose from.
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- Steve’s “Ssamguac,” inspired by Korean Ssam dishes, with short rib and veggie. Tied for 2nd place in Alternative.
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- Zimmer, Teira and baby Lake, none of which are wearing cigarette girl outfits.
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- Lauren & Dave’s “Guac Rothko,” an Abstract Expressionist art piece, (mixed media). Tied for 3rd!
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- Liz & Justin’s “Traditional #9,” a recurring title that earned victory two years ago, 2nd last year, and now 3rd.
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- Albert & Shakira’s “Guactemala,” a Guatemalan entry (i.e., added pineapple, and plantain chips.)
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- Here they are in happier times before learning it got 2nd place in the Icarus Award. I liked it!
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- Neighbor Josh representing the hood with “Eagle Guac,” a depiction of our beloved city’s Eagle Rock rock.
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- “Empty Nesters,” my mom and stepdad’s commentary on their life status. The nest was made of avocado skin!
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- Vikki and Robert posing with their empty nest.
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- Chris’s “GuacaMueller with Gambino Style Roll-Ups” (which were, of course, Takis.)
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- “This is Guacward…” by Saxton & Maria. Is it the huge bowl that makes it awkward? We’ll never know.
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- Saxton and Maria posing Guacwardly, an homage to their entry.
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- Jason’s “El Bandito,” featuring the talking bullets from Roger Rabbit. Why? I forgot to ask. But I like it.
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- And of course, the Desowitzes return with their infamous guac brownies, making 7 years of guacolate.
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- The trophies, relegated to inside the house because of rain.
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- The rain meant no Winner’s Lounge in the garden, so we improvised with some fancy booze and the velvet rope.
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- Kitchen partiers.
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- Robby, Joelle and baby Dovey braving the tent.
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- Rhonie accepting the Best Traditional trophy! Her parents won it 14 years ago, before she was born!
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- Tim was “literally speechless” after winning the Icarus Award. Like the Patriots, he won without even trying.
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- Tim was “literally speechless” after winning the Icarus Award. Like the Patriots, he won without even trying.
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- Brandon reuniting with an old familiar friend, the trophy that he has won 5 times now.
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- Champagne toast on the damp patio!
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- Utter joy.
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- The traditional drinking of champagne from the trophies.
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- We even made Rhonie pretend to drink champagne (it was empty, I swear.)
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- The 2019 winners.
