COLUMBUS - The night was young and the appetites were growing during the opening of the doors at the 2026 Taste of Columbus event benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Champion Valley. The culinary delights were held at the Boys and Girls Club at the Southern Oaks Event Center in Columbus and brought out the finest chefs, at least in their opinions, who prepared top-notch dishes from appetizers to desserts. The chef showdown happened on July 9.
The hall buzzed with guests munching on contestants’ tasty bites and jokingly casting their votes for the ultimate food connoisseur. The live music set the tone, and the live and silent auction, and raffle tickets brought in a much-needed infusion of donation cash to help the club in its mission “to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.”
The Boys and Girls Club of Champion Valley, since 2004, has offered programs to youth, ages 6-18, that instill a sense of competence, belonging, usefulness, and influence in them. The club has services in Columbus, Schulenburg and Weimar.
The food-happy teams cooked up deliciousness and the guests spoke.
The winners for the 2026 Taste of Columbus event are: Best in Show - FSC, Inc.; First Place Dessert - Granny’s Goodies; Second Place Dessert - Colorado County Sheriffs Office; First Place Appetizer - Columbus Lions Club; Second Place Appetizer - Columbus State Bank; Judge’s Choice Appetizer - Columbus State Bank; Judge's Choice Dessert - Big Easy; Best Professional - Pilsners Place Cafe.
