Capitol Market's Bring Home the Bacon

By Candace Nelson - 8:44 PM

Bring Home the Bacon

A week or so ago, the Capitol Market hosted its Bring Home the Bacon event that celebrated the perfect summer sandwich: the BLT. 

Bring Home the Bacon

The event featured a signature BLT made with all local Capitol Market ingredients, including Kristi Ann Bakery’s bread from The Purple Onion, green tomatoes from Tug Fork Farms, bacon from Johnnie’s Fresh Meat Market, lettuce from Gritt’s Midway Greenhouse and bacon jam and pesto from The Purple Onion. 

Bring Home the Bacon

Executive Director Evan Osborn was cooking up the BLTs to order, and attendees could purchase one, along with a drink and koozie for $20. 

Bring Home the Bacon

The Capitol Market BLT was seriously so good. The fried green tomato added some extra crunch, the bacon jam added some sweetness, and everything was so fresh, it really took things up a notch. 

Bring Home the Bacon

Cathy Nutter also brought some homemade pimento cheese that could be added by request. Yum! 

Bring Home the Bacon

But that was just one part of the event.

The other half was six area cooks creating their own spins on BLTs for a panel of celebrity judges in an effort to win the coveted Golden Swine of Capitol Market award, as well as free bacon for one year from Johnnie's Fresh Meat Market.

Bring Home the Bacon

The cooks were able to buy fresh produce from the market, and they were also able to bring any extra goods from home. 

I was really lucky to be able to be a judge - and taste all of these incredible BLTs. 

Hernshaw Farms - "We combined Hernshaw Farms Dried Lion's Mane Focaccia baked in Villa DiTrapano olive oil, General Steak & Seafood Bacon topped with J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works Mushroom and Herb Salt and glazed with Hill n’ Hollow Maple Syrup, with a Gritt's Farm Mater, The Wine Shop at Capitol Market mozzarella, Ohmygreens (one of our fierce BLT competitors) Cantaloupe greens, my wife's Basil (plant originally from Bostic Greenhouses) and balsamic glaze making for a banging BLTM!!" 

Bring Home the Bacon

I stole the description from their Facebook page, because as you can see, there are lots of local ingredients! Aside from this sandwich being absolutely massive, I was obsessed with the bread. They were up early making it; it was fresh and absolutely delicious. I kept stealing bits of it from my sandwich throughout the rest of the competition. They took home the win for using most local ingredients. 

Bring Home the Bacon

Dakota Farmer - "BLT Tramezzino - Grilled Charleston Bread Blue Monday, Homemade Pesto Aioli, Heirloom Tomato from John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses, Homemade Calabrian Chili Tomato Jam, J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works Smoked Salt and Pepper, Balsamic & Pepper Glazed Thick-Cut Bacon, Fontina, Baby Gem Lettuce, Dressed Arugula, Antipasto Skewer, Fueled by: Stone Brewing Hazy IPA from The Wine Shop at Capitol Market"

Bring Home the Bacon

I stole this description from Facebook, too, and, man, do I wish he had a restaurant, because I would order this BLT again. And ALL of my fellow judges agreed - we gave him the top overall honor, so he took home the golden swine and the year of bacon. It had the perfect mix of textures and salty and sweet and refreshing. The little skewer was like a palate cleanser, and then the sandwich just absolutely blew us away. Even the dressed greens on the side helped give balance to everything. 

Bring Home the Bacon

Kayla Young | Eggs Will Roll
- The queen of egg rolls came out of retirement to make a BLT eggroll with an aioli AND a spring roll with another sweet, peanut dipping sauce. I know Kayla got her bacon from Johnnie's and the lettuce and tomatoes from Gritt's. 

Bring Home the Bacon

This one was so creative - and we got two different versions! PLUS homemade sauces. They were each creative in their own ways, but this one definitely was! 

Bring Home the Bacon

Bring Home the Bacon

Amanda Leigh Ivy - "Croissant bread, Pickled Fried Green Tomatoes, House Bacon, Home Grown Frisee, Dukes, and a Crabby Patty" - stolen from Facebook

Bring Home the Bacon

Talk about another creative BLT! I've never seen bread in this croissant fashion before, and I definitely wasn't expecting a crab cake - but they make everything better. 

Bring Home the Bacon

Mike & Lincoln Scarberry - This duo made a classic BLT with a special sauce and slice of avocado. 

Bring Home the Bacon

If there was a category for best classic, this would be it. It nailed all the essentials with a bit of creative twist. This one was juicy and messy - in the best way. 

Bring Home the Bacon

Ohmygreens
- "Ohmygreens brought home the win for Most Creative at the Capitol Market ”Bring Home The Bacon” challenge. Our BLT was Charleston Bread, Gritt's Tomato & Lettuce, The Butcher Shop Bacon with a fresh Mango Chili Glaze, Micro Cilantro & Avocado Aioli. Paired with a crostini topped with grilled brie from The Wine Shop, Bourbon Glazed Peach & Micro Cantaloupe."

Bring Home the Bacon


Stole the description again here from Facebook, but the last certainly wasn't the least here. This one really packed in the flavor all in one sandwich - between the glazes, the layers of flavors with the greens and the side that included a grilled peach was almost like dessert! 

Bring Home the Bacon

If you didn't get a chance to check it out this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year. And if you need even more of a reason, check out these mouthwatering photos from Rafael Barker. 


Bring Home the Bacon

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