Oodles of Noodles Cook off awards

White sauces almost ruled the day during the second annual Dayton Oodles of Noodles Cook off Saturday -- except for first place. which went to a sweet and sour Italian red sauce made by the Lyon County Tourism Bureau.

More than 400 people bought $5 "tasting tickets" at the event, a fund raiser for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Lyon tourism folks also won the People's choice Award with their red sauce, but both second and third places went to white sauces.

Dayton High School student Amy Gardner, 16, won second place with her portabella mushroom cream sauce, according to Roxie Paine, executive director of the chamber.

"She just loves to cook and, boy, it shows," she said. "It was wonderful."

The third place award went to chefs from Costco, who made a cream sauce with poached salmon.

The six pasta judges were Lyon County Sheriff Sid Smith, Lyon County Judge Bill Rogers, Dayton High School Principal Terri White, Dayton Fire Department Chief John Gillenwater, Larry Friedman of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and Dave Preston from KKOH.

Pasta chefs competed for a four awards, each of which included several prizes.

The Lyon County Tourism Bureau won several prizes with both the People's Choice and first place.

For People's Choice, they got airline tickets for two from Reno to Las Vegas on Southwest Airlines and a three-day, two-night stay at the Excalibur, as well as a wine basket from Tahoe Ridge Vineyards and a captain's pass on the M.S. Dixie.

For first place, they won airline tickets for two from Reno to Las Vegas and a three-day, two-night stay at the Circus Circus as well as a pasta basket from Gere Clark in Dayton and a captain's pass on the M.S. Dixie.

Amy Gardner received a one-night stay for two at Carson Valley Inn, a glider ride at Soar Minden, dinner for two at Benihana in Reno and two VIP passes on a breakfast ride at the Ponderosa Ranch.

Costco employees took home dinner for two at the Vista Room at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Reno and a sunset dinner dance on the M.S. Dixie.