Clayton Hosts Cook-Off for Contra Costa County Mayors

Absent was their typical professional attire, instead area mayors sported aprons for the annual Mayor's Healthy Cook-Off Saturday morning in Clayton's .

The mayors, with a wee bit of help from chefs from their cities, prepared brunch for the judges in hopes of winning prizes for their local schools.

Salmon tacos, a spinach and shrimp omelette, yogurt with berries, and salsa with fresh vegetables were just some of the dishes the political leaders and their talented partners concocted.

The winner was the Concord team. Mayor Laura Hoffmeister and Bravo Bistro chef Habib Jacifi took the top prize: An organic garden for one of their local school. The garden, said Hoffmeiste, will go to Mt. Diablo High School.

"Mt. Diablo High already has a garden and they've done a great job incorporating it into the school," Hoffmeister said. "I think this will only improve their program."

Competition aside, the mayors said they participated to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition, especially for young people.

"It's important to promote that you can eat well. It makes people happier, you live longer and keeps life great," Walnut Creek Mayor Cindy Silva said.

The annual cook-off could expand in the coming years. Dublin's mayor, Tim Sbranti, participated even though his city is in Alameda County.

"We have a mayors conference on Sept. 14 and I'm excited about bringing this to all of the East Bay," Sbranti said. "This is something I'm passionate about and want to be personally involved in."

The cook-off also gave one of Contra Costa County's smallest cities, Clayton, a chance to bring regional leaders to its downtown.

"This gives us an opportunity to show off The Grove park and tell people about the concerts and other activities we have here," Clayton Mayor David Shuey said. "I think its been fun for people from Clayton to come by and watch the event."

How the cities finished in the cook-off:

1. Concord
2. Martinez
3. Walnut Creek
4. Pittsburg
5. Moraga
6. Richmond
7. Lafayette
8. Pleasant Hill
9. El Cerrito
10. Clayton
11. Danville