Luke de Castro Assignment 14

The fight for the gold. That’s what people usually think about at the Olympics, not a family vacation. Nevertheless, each year my family gathers from across the country to Captiva Island in Florida to have a cooking competition. The prize: Captiva Gold. This gold medal represents bragging rights for an entire year, until the next family reunion.

The competition is between four teams of eight people and lasts an entire week. Not only do the teams cook a meal for the rest of the family, they must produce multiple courses and entertainment that revolve around a central theme. Some winning nights have included 80s Prom, Medieval, and Spa night. These winners are decided on the last night of the week by a democratic voting process. A team has a chance to win in multiple categories, but there is only one Captiva Gold winner. Competition is fierce, and the tradition is marked with scandals and controversies. This annual event, though unusual, is my favorite family tradition.