The 2025 winner of the Best Irish Stew in the Business category was Josh O’ Ehrengruber from Decade Plumbing. Lad Josh also won the People’s choice award. When asked about his secret ingredients in his stew, he would only share that his mother’s name is McCormick and the stew recipe was a group effort consisting of his sister, brother in law and himself. They added a little smokey flavor and some nice garlic smashed potatoes to their bowls of stew.
San Diego County’s only Irish Stew Cook-off is returning March 12 to St. Stephen Hall.
The 30th Annual VC Irish Stew Cook-off is the only one held in San Diego County and has been growing each year for the last 30 years. It will happen on Thursday, March 12, 5-7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Parish Hall on 31020 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center next to VC High School. Questions? Contact Kathleen at 760-497-7007 cell/text.
This event is sponsored by the Valley Roadrunner and the Valley Center Business Association.
No need to travel to Ireland this year to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Come to the Irish Stew Cook-off and get your fill of Irish Stew, fun, laughter and shenanigans.
Just imagine being able to wear all your fine Kelly green clothes and being with your family and friends, hearing Irish music, see the Rose Academy of Irish Dancers and enjoying a pint and taste lots of Irish Stews for the evening. This is a family-friendly event open to the Irish and all those who claim to be Irish for the day. Tickets are available at the door. The cost is $10 per person.
Price of the ticket includes tastings of the Irish Stews and entertainment. Visit to the Irish Pub and pints are extra.
Lots of Blarney will be going on during the event.
There will be plenty of Irish Stews to sample. You can buy chances to win a pot of gold, see the upcoming contestants for the Miss Valley Center Pageant, meet the contestants for the Valley Center Honorary Mayor’s contest and enjoy a pint and the Irish Pub.
Each Irish Stew Cook-off has between 15-20 Irish stews to sample. Folks from the community, businesses and service club look for their favorite Irish Stew recipe and prepare their stews, decorate their tables, get a bribe for the judges and after the Irish Stew judging has been completed, give samples to the public.
Want to be a part of the Irish Stew Cook-off? It is pretty easy. You can enter an Irish Stew in one of the 4 categories: Individual, Service Club, Business and Youth.
Get your applications at vcirishstew.com. Download the application and submit it to the address provided.
Questions? Call the Valley Roadrunner at 760-749-1112 or Kathleen at 760-497-7007.
Dining and Cooking