Scripps College

For the first time in the 14-year history of the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, a Best of Show has been awarded to a L.A. County-produced olive oil. Even more fascinating is that it wasn't an established olive farm but rather a local college that won. Were you thinking Caltech? Not surprising, since they've been pressing their own campus grown olives since 2007. But no, their famous centrifuges did not spin them the gold this year.

Caltech's rival in campus-grown olive oil craft is Scripps College, one of the eight Claremont Colleges that dominate the Pomona Valley town of Claremont. The students of Scripps only had to stroll to the campus Olive Walk for inspiration. A large portion of the olives used for the pressing came from those trees, some of which are over 80 years old.

But wait, there's more. This was the college's first-ever press and as such its first ever entry in the competition. This unlikely victory was almost squashed before the student who originally dreamed this up was even born. If you save it, you will win? More details about this extra virgin olive oil coup after the jump.

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T. Nguyen

Cognoscenti Coffee's Jonathen Liu prepares for the Southwest Regional Barista Competition

Starting today and going through the weekend, over 30 baristas -- including a good number from Los Angeles -- will be in Santa Cruz to compete in the Specialty Coffee Association of America's Southwest Regional Barista Competition. This would be one of six such regional competitions; the top 6 from each region automatically move on to compete in the U.S. Barista Championship in Boston next month. The winner of this national competition then represents the United States in what generally is considered the Olympics of the coffee world, the World Barista Championship. To date, only one American has won the WBC: Handsome Coffee Roasters's Michael Phillips, in 2010.

As a spectator sport, the barista competition falls somewhere between a spelling bee and a Top Chef Quickfire challenge: Maybe not as stressful as watching a 14-year-old trying to spell guetapens, but not as frenzied as a reality cooking show, either.

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Malcolm Bedell/From Away

The award-winning Apricot-Shellacked Ghost Chile Wings

Malcolm Bedell, a food blogger from Rockland, Maine, was the big winner in the Today show's first Super Bowl chicken wing cookoff today, with his Apricot-Shellacked Ghost Chile Wings. Why, exactly, is this so unspeakably thrilling? Because he is my little brother!

I never would have imagined, when my little bro was a porky young lad who used Pepto-Bismol as the "secret ingredient" in the chocolate-mint milkshake he once made me, that one day he would win a nationally televised chicken wings contest precisely for his genius at combining unusual flavors.

Yet that is exactly what Bedell, 34, did before 4.5 million viewers this morning.

Bedell not only won the first annual Golden Chicken prize for his Apricot-Shellacked Ghost Chili Wings -- the contest was not even close. Judge Sunny Anderson, a chef and Food Network personality, quickly dismissed the other two contenders' Asian Scorpion Pepper Wings and Wicked Wasabi Wings, saying, "I would go back 1,000 times over, I would eat the whole chicken farm of [Bedell's] wings....It's finger-licking goodness. The Today show wing-off winner, baby!" Plus, Bedell got to meet Air Bud. And Kevin Spacey. Recipe after the jump.

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Screenshot of Thomas Keller's Twitter page

Via Fox Broadcasting

MasterChef judges Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich

Is it your lifelong dream to be berated and/or praised by a British guy on television? Isn't that every American's dream these days? If so, you're in luck! Because Fox's MasterChef is holding a casting call in L.A. tomorrow for season 4, and the show just tweeted that Gordon Ramsay will be in attendance.

The open casting takes place from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Le Cordon Bleu in Hollywood. You have to pre-register here. Then you have to download this form (PDF file), fill it out, and bring it to the casting, along with one prepared dish to serve to the judges. The info page on the open castings states "You will be given a few minutes to plate your dish at the given casting location, but there will not be a kitchen to cook or warm it up so come prepared!"

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Meatopia

The grill scene at Meatopia 2011

Ever see a poster for a show or, even better, one of those gluttonous, $100-a-head food events, and think, man, is that ugly? Ever say to yourself, I could do better with some gnawed-up crayons and the back of an envelope? Now's your chance. Set to go down at Randall's Island in New York on Sept. 12, the Whole Foods-sponsored mega-event Meatopia -- billed rather grotesquely as a "city of meat" -- is looking for a nice poster. There's a contest to pick the very best one, and you, or anyone for that matter, are welcome to enter it.

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Flickr/fivecats

habaneros

We're not sure if this would be considered a treat or torture for Dad, but on June 17 Chichen Itza restaurant is hosting its second annual habanero-eating contest as part of Mercado La Paloma's Father's Day celebration. Chichen Itza specializes in cuisine from the Yucatán Peninsula (we're big fans of the cochinita pibil), a region of Mexico not known to shy away from copious use of the habanero pepper, which measures anywhere from 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville units (jalapeños come in at a tepid 2,500 to 8,000). For anyone who's ever dabbed a bit too much habanero salsa on their tacos, it's no secret that these little orange bombs pack a payload of burn.

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The Langham Huntington, Pasadena

Afternoon Tea at the Langham

Back in June 1865, Americans were reeling from the end of the Civil War, Charles Dickens was recovering from a near-fatal train accident at Staplehurst, and in London, the Langham opened its doors. The Langham was Europe's first grand hotel to serve afternoon tea, a tradition, it says, that began in 1840 when Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, hit the 4 p.m. wall and served tea and snacks "to ward off hunger pangs in the long hours between lunch and dinner." Amen.

As it happens, this year is the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, or the Diamond Jubilee. To mark both its founding and the Diamond Jubilee, the Langham Huntington in Pasadena will celebrate on June 10 with its Jubilee Anniversary Tea: 80 people will be chosen, via lottery, to attend an afternoon tea served at 1865 prices. That would be a mere shilling and sixpence, or 15 cents in 2012 U.S. dollars, which is considerably less than the Langham's present-day prices of $39 to $59 per person for the privilege.

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Drew Tewksbury

Previous year's competitor

Tomorrow marks the 10th annual Grilled Cheese Invitational, held this year at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Undoubtedly there are a few devotees out there who can attest to sandwich superiority, having frequented the event over the last decade. Competitor registration is closed and it's too late to be a judge, but for those of us stumbling upon the occasion for the first time, here's a look at what's between the bread.

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R.E.~/Flickr

Cappuccino at Intelligentsia

Over the weekend, Katie Carguilo took the champion title at the annual USBC event -- that would be the United States Barista Championship and not the United States Bowling Congress (though that, too, apparently had everyone on pins and needles this weekend). Hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the U.S. Barista Championship was part of a four-day coffee extravaganza in Portland, Ore., that was one part competition and one part Comic-Con for coffee geeks. More than 50 baristas came ready to compete; each had 15 minutes to pull espressos, pour cappuccinos and create signature drinks before a panel of judges, all while explaining the coffees and otherwise being professional and attentive. You know, like every barista on every weekday morning.

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