Eight times as many vendors at this year's noodle cook off

After a first year with 10 vendors, the second-annual Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Oodles of Noodles Cook off has exploded in size, according to Roxie Paine, executive director of the chamber.

"This year I have a total of 82 vendors and 14 cooks," she said. "A lot of the chamber members have stepped up (to enter the cooking competition)."

The pasta preparation begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and tasting runs from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Centered on Logan Way and Pike Street in old town Dayton, the cookoff is becoming more of a festival, Paine said.

There'll be two bands playing on either end of the main street: the Will Rose Roadshow from Silver City doing country and a Dayton three-piece called Phatzsday.

Dave Preston, gourmet food, wine and entertainment specialist for KKOH radio station 780 AM, will be doing his weekly Saturday morning show "Weekend Magazine" at the event. He'll broadcast a live critique of the pasta dishes as well as interview musicians such as blues man Bobby Joe Holman who recently started performing at the Dayton Depot.

The fun will spread all the way into the Dayton Museum where "there's a large, large silent auction," Paine said.

"We'll have over 100 items in our silent auction," she said. Items up for auction -- donated by each of the 82 vendors -- include rose bushes, tile, pictures, ski passes for next season, pottery, jewelry and weekends at bed and breakfasts, hotels and lodges.

There will also be wine Sampling with Rick Halbardier, owner of Tahoe Ridge Vineyards and Winery in Minden, as well as noodle art for kids and carriage rides.

"It's meant to be a fun thing, not a difficult thing," Paine said.

The six pasta judges will be Lyon County Sheriff Sid Smith, Lyon County Judge Bill Rogers, Dayton High School Principal Terri White, Dayton Fire Department Chief John Gillenwater, Larry Friedman of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and Preston.

Pasta chefs will compete for a four awards, each of which includes several prizes.

The winner of the people's choice award will receive airline tickets for two from Reno to Las Vegas on Southwest Airlines and a three-day, two-night stay at the Excalibur as well as a wine basket from Tahoe Ridge Vineyards and a captain's pass on the M.S. Dixie.

First place will receive airline tickets for two from Reno to Las Vegas on and a three-day, two-night stay at the Circus Circus as well as a pasta basket from Gere Clark in Dayton and a captain's pass on the M.S. Dixie.

Second place will get a one-night stay for two at the Carson Valley Inn, a glider ride at Soar Minden, dinner for two at Benihana and two VIP passes on a breakfast ride at the Ponderosa Ranch.

Third place will get dinner for two at the Vista Room at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Reno and a sunset dinner dance on the M.S. Dixie.

IF YOU GO

What: Second-annual Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Oodles of Noodles Cook off

When: Saturday -- cooking starts at 9 a.m. tasting runs from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Where: Old town Dayton on Pike Street and Logan Way

Call: Roxie at 246-7909

ON THE NET

www.daytonnvchamber.org