Grand Junction came alive Friday night as top Western Slope chefs accepted one of the wildest culinary challenges around: make Girl Scout cookies taste good in dinner, not dessert. The third annual Give a Chef a Cookie fundraiser packed the Las Colonias Park Amphitheater with hungry crowds, loud applause, and some seriously creative plates, all to support Girl Scouts right here in Mesa County.
The sold-out event raised thousands of dollars in one evening, proving once again that people will happily pay good money to watch talented chefs sweat over Thin Mints and Tagalongs.
What Actually Happened on Stage
Eight local restaurants went head-to-head in front of a live audience and a panel of judges that included food writers, radio hosts, and Girl Scout alumnae.
The rules were simple but brutal: every dish had to feature at least one full sleeve of Girl Scout cookies and could not be a dessert. That’s it. Everything else was fair game.
The results ranged from brilliant to borderline insane.
Bin 707 Foodbar won People’s Choice with their chicken and peanut curry wonton tacos built on crushed Peanut Butter Patties. The cookies became the crunchy shell that held spicy curry chicken, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs. One bite and the table erupted.
Other standouts included:
- 626 on Rood’s spam musubi rolled with Samoas for a sweet-smoky crunch
- Dos Hombres’ green chile pork stew thickened with ground Trefoils
- The Goat and Clover Tavern’s Thin Mint pesto tossed with house-made pasta
Judge and local food personality Bryan Scaife said he had no idea shortbread could work in pork stew until he tasted it. “That was legitimately one of the best bowls of green chile I’ve ever had,” he told the crowd.
Why This Event Keeps Growing
Girl Scouts of Colorado Western Slope director Leanna Clark can’t hide her excitement about the growth.
Three years ago this was a small idea cooked up over coffee. Now it’s the hottest ticket in town during cookie season.
“These chefs are rock stars to our girls,” Clark said while watching scouts run between tables with cookie samples. “They see women and men in chef coats using the exact cookies they sold to create something amazing. That’s real inspiration.”
Every dollar from tickets, sponsorships, and the live auction stays in Mesa County. The money funds summer camps, STEM programs, outdoor adventures, and financial assistance so no girl gets turned away.
The Numbers Tell the Real Story
Last year’s event brought in just over $18,000. Early counts suggest Friday night cleared $25,000 and possibly more once final sponsorship dollars are tallied.
That’s life-changing money for local troops.
One scout parent told me her daughter earned enough camp scholarship money from last year’s event to attend space camp in Huntsville, Alabama this summer. Stories like that are why chefs keep saying yes year after year.
Chefs Love the Pressure
Ask any participating chef why they willingly subject themselves to this chaos and you’ll get the same answer: because it’s hard and because it’s for the kids.
“It’s the best kind of pressure,” said Bin 707 executive chef Josh Niernberg. “You’re on stage, timer running, crowd watching, and you have to make peanut butter cookies work in a savory taco. There’s nothing else like it.”
Some restaurants started testing recipes back in November when cookie pre-orders opened. Others waited until they saw which varieties their scout partners delivered. The surprise factor is part of the fun.
Looking Ahead to Year Four
Word is already spreading about next year’s event. Several restaurants that couldn’t participate this year have asked to be added to the 2025 list.
Girl Scouts of Colorado says they may need to move to a bigger venue or add a second night because tickets sold out in less than two weeks this year.
For now, the scouts are counting money, the chefs are catching up on sleep, and Mesa County gets to brag about having one of the most creative fundraisers in the state.
One thing is certain: when you give a chef a cookie around here, something magical happens.
What was your favorite savory cookie creation you’ve ever tried? Drop it in the comments and tag a friend who needs to know this event exists. Let’s keep growing this incredible night for our local Girl Scouts.
