RON SWARNER: MY HEAD HURTS >>>

I had the honor of judging today’s Cheffin’ Off competition at the Go Local Tacoma Lounge at the Tacoma Farmers Market. Four noble gents joined me â€" Ed Murrieta from southsoundeats.com, Stadium Video and Buzzards CDs and Video owner Marty Campbell, Broadway Center deputy director Benjii Bittle and Derek Young, founder and editor of Exit133 and his new Seasonal View company. Tacoma’s finest right there, folks.

Anyway, I forgot sunscreen. I’m fried. Matt Driscoll is poking me in the head to watch the color change. It’s a beautiful day out there people. Lather up and venture out.

Congratulations to Julie Rex, formerly of Corina Bakery, for taking the Cheffin' Off title with her amazing salmon dish.  Rex just nudged Deanna Bender, chef/owner of Over the Moon Café, into second place with her halibut cheeks wrap. Both so yum. Sammy the Slammin’ Salmon, Go Local Tacoma’s mascot, took third with overcooked chicken.

Amanda Westbrooke, the host of TV Tacoma’s CityLine, kept the show flowing as emcee. She introduced me as the guy who writes “biting” commentary. Glad she’s a reader.

Here is a photo of Westbrooke interviewing Sammy’s nose while today’s candidate for “most awkward kid” watched from an inappropriate distance.