This year, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana’s Desserts First (a hybrid foodie fundraiser that sounds almost too scrumptious to be true, but it is legitimately real life) will be back in its ninth year. Last year’s Desserts First was my first wide-eyed wonder exposure to an event that not only made my inner child’s dreams come true, but more importantly, was all about teaching empowerment to young girls. It’s an absolute win-win.
The 8th Annual Desserts First was all about instilling confidence specific to a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) initiative. Teaching a young child that new traditions can be made, and that no dreams are off limits is one of the most rewarding hopes for our future. Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana remains an admirable organization; essentially trying to make the world better one staggeringly delicious Girl Scouts Cookie at a time. This year, innovations will be based around the concept of celebrating the Technology of Cooking. I can barely handle my anticipation to see the gastronomical, mind-blowing offerings that await this year from Louisville’s finest.
On Wednesday, February 25th at the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center, between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., the choicest chefs from all over our burgeoning foodie city will come together in the spirit of the indulgence we all know, esteem and desire: Girl Scout Cookies. Prepare for the most delectable eats.
List of 2015 Participating Restaurants:
Adrienne & Co.
Bake My Day
Bill's Famous Spreads
Bluegrass Brewing Company
Bristol Bar & Grille
Cake Flour
Cellar Door Chocolates
Comfy Cow
Crescent Hill Craft House
Desserts by Debbie
Feast BBQ
Flour de Lis Bakery
Galt House Hotel (RIVUE)
Gary's on Spring
Highlands Tap Room
Hillbilly Tea
John conti Coffee
Lady Fingers
Mango's Mexican Bar and Grill /Cantina
Melting Pot
Q&A Sweet Treats
RedHot Roasters
Roux
Varanese
Vincenzo's
Louisville Cream
Some of the standouts from last year include:
Cellar Door Chocolates’ Girl Scouts Shortbread Trifle Cookie with a complex caramel, 55% dark chocolate, and a Hawaiian black lava sea salt.
Vincenzo’s Girl Scouts Savannah Smiles cookie with ricotta cheese, lemon, and white chocolate.
Hillbilly Tea’s Chai Tea and Samoas Girl Scouts Cookies, topped with Chai tea caramel and marshmallow.
Q&A Sweet Treats’ Bacon Maple Do Si Do Bar, with caramelized bacon, nut, and maple topping.
The Comfy Cow (a forever favorite) even had ice cream bon bons last year!
You see firsthand the talent of our Louisville chefs when the Galt House is able to create a Shrimp Bellini out of a Thank U Berry Munch Cookie, when John Conti Coffee keeps its glorious caffeinated integrity with just the right added Girl Scout Cookie crumble impact, and when Gary’s on Spring uses science super powers for the good of Girl Scouts (and society) with an alcoholic cookie-based milkshake including swirling caramel vodka and coconut rum. One aspect that impressed me the most was the delicate balance achieved between sweet and salty, so that you never leave feeling as if you’ve eaten too much of one thing. The variety will make your eyes (and taste buds) get caught up in Shakespearean love sonnets.
Where else can you get a decadent Girl Scout cookie-inspired sample from the Galt House’s RIVUE Restaurant and Lounge, Louisville’s very own rotating restaurant (and the only one in the world with two moving floors)? If you have not heard the latest buzz in the foodie scene for fresh, exciting newcomer Louisville Cream, get excited. Supposedly they have a flavor called The Red Queen: daydream about goat cheese and honey ice cream with cherry five-spice jam and toasted pistachios. Be one of the first to delight in an ice cream that is sure to become a staple amongst Louisville desserts! And just imagine the creative ice cream antics Louisville Cream can get into with Girl Scout Cookies as the lifeblood for foodie inventions at Desserts First.
If you have not had the opportunity to attend a Desserts First event yet, cross it off your bucket list this year. What better way to forget that Frozen’s Elsa is clearly chocolate-deprived, and thus, we are in the midst of a blatant arctic tundra in the 'ville. My personal solution? Girl Scout Cookies are ideal cold weather salvation. Warm up with some cookie-infused John Conti Coffee! Make 2015 the year you find out what you’re missing. Support our young girls in this world and teach them to reach for the technological stars.
**
All funds raised from this event benefit Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, which serves over 17,000 adult and girl members in 64 counties throughout central and western Kentucky as well as southern Indiana.
For a limited time only, buy one $55.00 ticket and get one free! Basically, you’re two tickets reduced to the cost of $27.50 each, which is totally worth it. Advice: Bring a plus one with whom you can team up, divide, and conquer- splitting the right amount of desserts to save room to devour entirely your favorites! Foodie strategy is key.
Click here to buy tickets! Enjoy Girl Scout Cookies galore Wednesday of next week. Treat yourself to happiness.
All Photos: Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana's facebook page
