Cook Off!

The very different Minnesotan Sisters Sharon and Pauline Solfest both win entry into the one million dollar, Van Rookle Farms televised cooking contest. While the first enters a multiple chocolate dessert, nursing home employee and nutritionist Pauline enters a dish easy to digest for seniors. Sharon is engaged to Lars Hagerbakke, a black Swede, and they have vowed chastity until their wedding, while her sister works so much, she has no time for a relationship.

Some of the other 48 colorful character contestants from around the country are introduced. The first ever African American participant, Ladybug Briggs, is the wheelchair-bound mother of Atlantan preacher Thaddeus and womanizer Markus. Conneticutian Cassandra Dougherty is clearly participating because her domineering mother Victoria is pushing her into it. Arizonan mother of many Patty Pasternak, enters pregnant. Daneel Kuhar, an obsessed past contestant who had participated until the limit, has her ‘boyfriend’ Del Crawford enter.

At the welcome event, Victoria blocks all males who try to interact with Cassandra, including Markus and Del. Daneel circulates among the contestants, none of whom remember her from past years.

On day one, while all of the other contestants have already begun preparing their dishes, Amber Strang and her husband Cameron burst in. Having had trouble en route by car from Pittsburg, they are late so are told they are disqualified. The onlookers rally for Amber, so she is let in.

Meanwhile, as her sister Sharon clearly is oblivious that Lars is a closeted gay, a distraught Pauline looks for advice on how to make her realize. They end up arguing, with Pauline pointing out that her sister puts her down regularly. When Cassandra’s dish gets burned, in part due to her mother not leaving her alone, she finally rebels, calling her a controlling hasbeen.

Both Amber and Cassandra are disqualified. The first is upset, as she tripped on the way to placing her dish in front of the others, the other feels liberated, as she stood up to her mother, who claims she psychiactric help.

That evening the contestants unwind in an evening social event. Both TV presenter Christine Merriweather and Sharon suspect Daneel and Del of something fishy. Shortly after Sharon suggests to Lars they consummate their relationship, he goes off with Del to the bar Bananas, where he believes he will enjoy himself. The camera crew secretly follows, Lars realizes and comes out.

Arriving back at the hotel room in the morning, Sharon chews Lars out. He clearly announces he is gay, but she is in denial. Sharon mentions conversion therapy to unconfuse Lars. He insists he will always be there for her, but asks her to return her pink engagement ring.

The final, ‘The Ring of Fire’ consists of both Solfest sisters, Lady Briggs, Del, Patty and two more. Sharon breaks down in tears so both Pauline and Lady Briggs encourage her. Del has a hostile call from Daneel and notices Patty’s water has broke. Just after the judges choose Del’s dish, not only does Daneel happily jump in, ecstatically declaring she has won, but the footage taken in Bananas is shown. Del confided to Lars his collaboration with Daneel.

Caos ensues, as Del runs out with the check. The studio gets locked down, so Patty’s husband sneaks in with the Muffin Man’s costume. Paramedics soon follow. Reevaluating the entries, Pauline is declared the victor.

Six months later, a news report references Cookoffgate, as both Daneel Kuhar and Del Crawford have been imprisoned. Her conviction is for fraudulently entering the contest via him with her recipe, as she had already participated in the contest three other times.

Last Updated: October 23, 2025 at 11:00