AMAZING Community Support for February’s SAGA Humane Society Cook-Off

Yesterday evening, Average Joe’s (AJ’s) Bar hosted the monthly SAGA cook-off to raise money for the kick-off of the operation SNIP program.  Animal control has always been a problem on the island of Ambergris Caye and this program is being put in place to spay or neuter as many dogs and cats as possible.This is an island folks!  If we all get our animals responsibly fixed and keep them safely contained in our houses and yards, we can solve this problem.

August 26th and 27th were part of the official kick-off with a free veterinary clinic to fix pets on the island for free.  The event was a huge success.

But there is so much more to do.  So what better way to raise money and make islanders and visitors happy?  Serve them cake.  And LOTS of it.  (Cheesecake below donated by Kakaw Chocolate/the Belize Chocolate Factory.)

For this February cook-off FOURTEEN amazing individuals and businesses donated dessert for 65 people.  Those with blood sugar issues BEWARE!  Everyone who attended gave a $10bzd donation to taste a bit of each and every one.  Look at what your donation bought you.

Must…eat…it.  It’s for the animals after all.

Here are just a few pictures of the food offerings.  Amy Knox of Wild Mango’s Restaurant and resident special occasion cake maker.  This is the Elvis cake.  Chocolate ganache, banana cake, peanut butter, crushed pretzels on the outside.  She made FOUR of these.  (I apologize for all of this shouting but these cakes were gorgeous.)

Black Orchid dropped off a giant crate of Baklava.  Mmmm…

Casa Pan Dulce Bakery made warm individual apple pies with scoops of home made vanilla ice cream.  I mean COME ON!

Some of my favorite offerings were made by individuals who put that special SAGA touch into it.

Everyone lined up…

And walked away with this.

I was kept busy selling tickets for the raffle.  We had some pretty great prizes.

And all of the winners were happy.  None more than Joe, winner of the one month free membership to Cross Fit (currently being built in the same building as DJ’s Restaurant).  Thanks for the donations Black Orchid, DJ’s, Ultimate Golf Cart Rentals and MELT restaurant.  More amazing generosity.

Here’s Joe.  Elated and ready to forge elite fitness.  (That what it says on the CrossFit website…I’ll definitely have to test this one out when it opens in March.)

And now…drum roll please…the Cook-Off winners.  Unfortunately 3rd Place, Black Orchid restaurant for their Greek Baklava and 2nd place, Elizabeth Bertsche for her Pineapple Rum Upside Down Cake were not present to pick up their certificates for proud display in their business and home!

First place went to Casa Pan Dulce for their apple pies.  Congratulations and Thank you!

Another HUGE thank you goes to Kevin and Heather, the owners of Feliz Bar just north of the bridge.  They have been gathering the proceeds of their Wednesday 4pm BINGO to present to SAGA for the month of February.  Last night they presented us with $1,224BZD!  Amazing.  Please make SURE to stop by their bar on your next visit and thank them.  (Shia LeBeouf just happens to be in this shot.  Unfortunately, he was NOT at AJ’s last night.)

Thanks to everyone including AJ’s Bar, all the businesses and people that donated food, time and the raffle prizes, for everyone who came…all 100+ of you, Feliz Bar’s Kevin and Heather and Ms. Heather Beck (on the left above) who will be matching all donations up to $1000USD for Operation SNIP.

See you next month!