Cooking Contest at Siouxland Center for Active Generations - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

It may be chilly outside, but inside the Siouxland Center for Active Generations it felt more like a tropical paradise.

It's Caribbean cruise week and this year's destination is South America. One of the week's most popular events, the cooking contest.

Staff from area businesses and care facilities entered their best dish to be judged by members of the media. Bragging rights for the best appetizer, bread, and dessert were on the line.

Activities Director Kerry Ruehle said, "This is something that was started about 15 years ago, and it was probably because of the winter blahs, and a lot of people can't afford necessarily to take off, and take a cruise. And we just have a good time, we researched different things you do on a cruise, check those things out and try to make those activities available."

Besides the food, week long events include Latin dancing, painting and live entertainment.

Emeritus at Northpark took top honors in the dessert and appetizer categories with a Chocolate Kahlua Dream and mini beef empanadas.

The anti-pesto pull apart bread from Whispering Creek Retirement won the bread category.