From left to right, Mitchell Farmer, Noah Biasco and Shaka Ekiyor share a laugh after the food-based festivites at Hotdish Revolution on October 18. (Davis Steen)
After a COVID-19 induced pause put a temporary halt on Hotdish Revolution in 2020, the potholders and spatulas were out in force again on October 18 at Grace Center, 1525 5th St. NE.
The fundraising event marked the return of an eclectic neighborhood gathering that originally ran from 2005 to 2019. Proceeds this year benefitted the Holland Neighborhood Association (HNIA) and Grace Lutheran Church
During that time, it became known for its mix of all the things you’d expect from a Northeast Minneapolis gathering, like charity raffles, beer and live music, and for some things you might not, like Haiku contests and political aspirants acting as celebrity judges, trying to determine who in the neighborhood possessed the most talent with a gelatin mold.
It all began at Pulaski Hall in 2005, according to John Koski, former HNIA board member, before later moving to locations like St. Maron’s Cedars Hall, Crescent Moon Banquet Hall and Firefighters Hall and Museum. “It’s been a neighborhood party … and it’s getting going again,” Koski said. He singled out the 2013 event at St. Maron’s as a highlight, with many of the event’s judges, Betsy Hodges, the eventual winner among them, coming from the large cadre of Minneapolis mayoral candidates.
Part of the event was a hotdish judging contest. Seen here are the celebrity judges. (Davis Steen)
This year’s competitors participated in perennial Hotdish Revolution categories like “Tater Tot,” “Darn Good” and “Jell-O Creations.” HNIA Secretary Chaz Mayo emceed the event. Sandy Kortebein won the coveted People’s Choice prize with her pumpkin casserole. JoAnne Peters, who won the “Jell-O Creations” category in years prior, successfully defended her crown. Amanda Kaiser won both the “Tater Tot” and “Vegetarian/Vegan” categories with separate dishes. Zak Stehlin won the “Darn Good” category with his beef bourguignon bake. A lack of entries led to no prize winners in the “Spicy” and “Kids’ Sweets” categories.
Though he didn’t participate in judging this time around, Mayor Jacob Frey made an appearance and applauded HNIA for its work in bringing back a “tried and true Northeast” event and congratulated the winners.
This year the raffle was sponsored and underwritten by neighborhood businesses like the Eastside Food Co-op, Central Avenue Liquors and PILLLAR Forum. Live music was provided by Dan Turpening, returning as the wandering accordionist, the Teddy Bear Band, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary and Socktopus, a 5-piece Twin Cities hip hop group closing out the festivities.
Ticket sales dried up ahead of schedule when the event’s namesake ingredient ran out, but the relative dearth of entries didn’t deter the current HNIA President and Vice President, Jake Bertram and Jason Smith respectively, from saying they plan to forge ahead next year and continue working to rebuild the Hotdish Revolution.
Right, Chaz Mayo, the emcee for the event, made himself visible with a “hotdish” hat and a sparkly, color-changing jacket. (Davis Steen)