Thousand Oaks, CA – Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and California Lutheran University are teaming up to host the 2nd Annual Cookie Rally and Bake Off on January 15, 2011 from 10:00 to 3:00 at CLU’s Gilbert Sports & Fitness Center.

The community is invited to join in the fun as local chefs from across Ventura County compete at this exciting event to determine who can create the best desert using one of the top 6 most popular Scout Cookie flavors including: samoa’s, thin mints, trefoils, tagalongs, lemon chalet crèmes and do-si-do’s! Tickets are available to enjoy sample tastings of the desert entries and an opportunity to vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award. A Silent Auction offering a variety of items from dining packages to a cooking with the fireman night will be available.

Participating restaurants include: Nic Manocchio, C Street Café; Tim Kilcoyne, The Sidecar Restaurant; Andrew Sandwick, Kate’s Bakery; Everardo Moreno, The Grill on the Alley; Michel Bardavid, The Secret Garden; Brian Kohl, Maestro’s Steakhouse; Kirsten Keller, Nate n Al's; Jerry White, Fiamme Restaurant; last year’s winner, Liz Beddow, The Melting Pot; and just for fun, the firefighters of the Simi Valley Firehouse Station #44 led by Ryan Flitt.

Judging the event will be local volunteer celebrities and community leaders. Our fabulous taste testers include; Lisa McKinnon, VC Star Food Editor; Christine Garboski, Nestle Food Kitchen Culinary Professional; Ryan Van Ommeren, CLU – VP of facilities;

Mel Sheeler, President Sheeler Moving & Storage; Trace Nealy, Live 105.5 Morning Show Host; Sheriff Geoff Dean; Jacqui Irwin, TO City Council; Alyson Warner, Artistic Director for Main Course California; Lisa Barry-Gofberg, Macaroni Kid e-newsletter; Dee Dee Cavanaugh, VP First California Bank; Mary Olsen, KCLU Radio; Michael Medina, Chemical engineer; Commander Cheryl Wade, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department; Chaya Turrow, Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient; Christine Pohl, Sur La Table Westlake, General Manager.

Girl Scouts get in on the action with 12 talented Mother Daughter teams who will compete in a special division at the Bake Off. The response was tremendous with Girl Scouts in grades 2-8 from Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, vying for a spot in the division which was drawn by lottery last November. All girls will receive an award for participating and their recipes will be part of a cookie cook book for next year’s event.

Also planned for this day of sweet competition is an Activity Area for Girl Scouts where they can participate in fun ‘hands on’ activities from the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaching financial literacy, safety, and sales ideas for the upcoming Cookie Sales Season. Cookie Season and the Cookie Rally provides the Girl Scouts organization with an opportunity to raise much needed funds for program, scholarships and community service projects.

For more information regarding this event contact:
Pattie Mullins - Membership Development Manager
Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast
805-658-8210 x.321 or pmullins@girlscoutsccc.org