Grilled Cheese Showdown 2026

Published 1:30 am Friday, January 16, 2026

Submitted by the Orcas Island Education Foundation.

The Orcas Island Education Foundation invites you to the Annual Grilled Cheese Showdown.

This family-friendly fundraiser takes place on Thursday, Feb. 11, starting at 5 p.m. in the public school cafeteria. Your admittance entitles you to soup and six grilled cheese sandwich tastings. (Note: each “taste” is a quarter of a sandwich — so you will be enjoying a sandwich-and-a-half of deliciousness.) There will also be a fabulous bake sale — treats by donation. And don’t forget – you get to vote for the winning sandwich.

We have six chefs/teams. The Island Market Team, the team from the new crew at the Orcas Hotel, The Lower team and three father-and-son teams: Matt and Kirin Carpenter, Evan and Charlie Westcott, and Ezra and Hayes Richardson. As Angela Emery (Island Market) expressed so well: “A grilled cheese sandwich is the ultimate comfort food. Warm gooey cheese and crunchy, toasted bread are the basics for comfort.”

Obviously, each team will bring creativity and talent to bread, cheese and a griddle, but only one will walk home a winner.

Join us for what will be a tasty fundraiser. All proceeds will benefit the Orcas Island Education Foundation, whose mission is to support our public schools.

Tickets are available online: https://live.givebutter.com/c/V7N1Av (or use the QR code to get to the ticket page). The cost is $15, and kids under 13 are $5. Note there are three ticket/seatings: 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.